Student Health Insurance in Germany
The enrolment workflow, step by step
No valid proof of health insurance, no enrolment: health insurance is the legal prerequisite for your Immatrikulation at a German university. This guide walks you through the whole process, from the documents and the choice between statutory (GKV) and private (PKV) cover to the digital notification sent to your university, explained clearly even without prior knowledge of the German system.
The key points at a glance
- Valid proof of health insurance is mandatory for enrolment at German universities.
- Statutory insurance (GKV) reports your status to the university automatically via the student reporting procedure (M10); with private insurance (PKV) you need an exemption application.
- Statutory student insurance costs roughly 136.80 € to 160.91 € per month in 2026 (including long-term care insurance).
- Start at least four weeks before the enrolment deadline; international students plan the bridging cover before the visa application.
Last updated: 15 June 2026 · meinetarife24 editorial team · Reading time: approx. 10 minutes
What to expect
Requirements and documents
Gathering the documents early speeds up the whole process. For the application with a statutory or private insurer you usually need:
For international students: also keep your passport with a current visa ready, and if applicable proof of existing travel or bridging insurance. Many insurers only process the application once your German registered address exists.
GKV or PKV: costs and differences
Most students are covered by statutory student health insurance (GKV), usually until the end of the 14th subject semester or until they turn 30. In 2026 the monthly cost is mostly between 136.80 € and 160.91 €, depending on long-term care insurance (with or without children) and each insurer's supplementary contribution.
| Feature | Statutory (GKV) | Private (PKV) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost 2026 | 136.80 € – 160.91 € per month | Often cheaper for young, healthy students, but risk-based |
| Benefits | Uniform, set by law | Plan-dependent, individually selectable |
| University notification | Automatic via M10 | Exemption application + own certificate needed |
| Suitable for | Most students | Civil servants' children, self-payers, special cases |
| Switching back | Switch any time within the usual deadlines | Exemption is irrevocable for the whole degree |
Important with PKV: if you opt out of statutory insurance into private cover, you are bound to that decision for the entire duration of your studies. The exemption is irrevocable, and a switch back into statutory student insurance is no longer possible during your degree. Consider this decision especially carefully.
Compare student plans
Compare suitable plans for students free of charge and without obligation. This shows which option fits your age, your status and the benefits you want.
Independent, free comparison. meinetarife24 is financed through commissions from the providers, at no extra cost to you.
Step by step: applying
You can complete the application entirely online today. Large insurers such as Techniker Krankenkasse, AOK, BARMER and DAK offer digital forms that take only a few minutes. Here is how it works:
Choose an insurer
Compare the supplementary contribution, bonus programmes and digital services. For young, healthy students, service and app quality often matter more than a small difference in contribution.
Fill in the online application
On the insurer's website choose the “Students” or “Become a member” section, complete all fields and upload your documents.
Upload the admission letter
This proof is mandatory. Without it, the insurer cannot confirm your student status.
Receive the membership certificate
After the review you receive a membership certificate. It is the trigger for the electronic notification to your university.
Track the notification to the university
The insurer transmits your status electronically (M10) to the university. More on this in the next section.
Complete enrolment
Once the university has received the status notification, you can officially enrol.
Applying for PKV exemption
If you choose private health insurance, you must file an exemption application with a statutory insurer within three months of the start of compulsory insurance (that is, after enrolment). Miss the deadline and you stay in the GKV. After that, the exemption is irrevocable for the entire degree. The private insurer issues its own certificate, which you submit to the university.
Pro tip
Watch the 20-hour rule: working more than 20 hours per week during the lecture period means you lose the favourable student status in health insurance. More is possible during the lecture-free period (up to 26 weeks a year). To see which insurer suits you, use the statutory health insurance comparison.
The M10 notification to the university
The M10 notification is part of the electronic student reporting procedure (Studenten-Meldeverfahren, SMV) under § 199a SGB V. With it, your health insurer transmits your insurance status digitally to the university. Without this status message, the university does not release your enrolment. The procedure has been mandatory since 1 January 2022 and fully replaced the old paper certificate.
Do not assume it all happens automatically. If there is no confirmation after about five working days, actively ask the registrar's office whether the message arrived, and ask your insurer whether it was actually sent. Many insurers offer an online status check or a service chat for this.
Typical pitfalls: wrong or incomplete details in the application, a missing registered address at the time of application, and starting too late just before the enrolment deadline. Also check whether your university needs a student or applicant number to match the notification.
Notes for international students
If you come to Germany from abroad, there is an extra hurdle: the visa or residence application often already requires proof of insurance before you can take out cover with a German insurer.
Semester abroad: if you plan a semester abroad yourself, German cover is often not enough outside the EU. For stays in the USA, Canada or Asia, a separate international health insurance is advisable. Check your insurer's benefits at least three months before departure.
Common mistakes and a checklist
Checklist for the complete workflow
- Receive and keep the admission letter
- Register your German address
- Choose and compare GKV or PKV
- Fill in and submit the online application
- Receive the membership certificate from the insurer
- Confirm the notification (M10) arrived at the university
- Complete enrolment
- Set up your insurance card and app access
Our take
The most common mistake when taking out student health insurance is not choosing the wrong insurer, but underestimating how long it takes. Many people count on two days, yet the electronic notification alone takes 3 to 4 working days, and with queries about the registered address two weeks soon pass.
Our advice: treat taking out insurance like a project with a deadline. Set yourself a personal deadline four weeks before the official enrolment deadline, compare several insurers not only on price but also on service, and call the university actively after you apply. That one call can save you weeks of waiting.
For international students and newcomers
The German insurance system feels intimidating at first: compulsory insurance, exemption applications, reporting procedures. The good news: once you understand the flow and start early enough, you get through it safely. International students who take the process seriously from the start are often particularly well prepared.
meinetarife24 explains these topics in German, English and Turkish, so you can make a well-informed decision even if German is not your native language.
Frequently asked questions
Related articles
Student insurance comparison 2026
Which insurance students really need and how to save when you compare.
Private health insurance for students
When private health insurance is worth it for students and what to watch for.
Compare statutory health insurers
Supplementary contribution, bonus programmes and benefits of the statutory insurers at a glance.
Insurance comparison
All the key insurance products for your start in Germany in one place.
Start your studies with peace of mind
You now know the workflow. Compare suitable student plans free of charge and sign up in time before the enrolment deadline.
Free · Independent · SSL-encrypted