Germany Student Health Insurance 2026 — TK vs DAK vs Mawista vs Allianz Comparison

Student health insurance in Germany comes in two types: statutory (Gesetzliche — TK/AOK/BARMER) and private (Private — Mawista/Allianz/Dr-Walker). Which one should you get for your visa, which one is valid for university enrollment, what are the price differences — a decision guide with real community experiences...

Germany Student Health Insurance — 2026 Comparison

30-second summary: Health insurance is mandatory when enrolling in Germany. There are two options:

• Statutory insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung — GKV): TK, AOK, BARMER, DAK → ~€120-130 per month, valid for both visa and university enrollment, doctors accept directly
• Private insurance (Private Krankenversicherung — PKV): Mawista, Allianz, Dr-Walker → ~€30-90 per month, OK for under 30 + first year, sufficient for visa but some universities reject it for enrollment

Practical for Turkish students: Get private (incoming) for the first 1-3 months, then switch to statutory insurance. This combo is the most economical + hassle-free.

#Statutory vs Private — Critical Difference

#Statutory Health Insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung — GKV)

Germany's public health system. All doctors and hospitals accept it. A special student tariff applies to students.

All are almost the same price — the difference is customer support + English coverage. TK and BARMER are better for English support.

#Private Health Insurance (Private Krankenversicherung — PKV)

Critical: Private insurance meets the AT/11 (Auslandskrankenversicherung — foreign health insurance) form requirement during the visa application. However, during Immatrikulation (university enrollment), some universities demand statutory insurance.

#What to get for the Visa? (36F process)

The consulate requires travel health insurance compliant with the AT/11 form — Schengen valid, 90 days, minimum €30,000 coverage.

From the community: "Which insurance should we get for 36F? I looked online and wasn't sure which one — the required documents list AT/11, don't we need to get it from private insurance companies?"

Answer: Yes, private. SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu — Social Security Institution) coverage in Turkey falls outside European rules. The AT/11 form is provided by private European health insurance:

• In Turkey: Sompo, Allianz Turkey, AXA — €40-70/3 months
• Online international: Mawista, Dr-Walter — €15-30/month × 3-6 months

#What to get for University Enrollment (Immatrikulation)?

After arriving in Germany, students under 30 are obliged to choose statutory insurance (legal rule). Students over 30 can remain in private insurance.

From the community: "How can I activate TK health insurance?"

Steps:

1. Apply for the student tariff from the TK website (tk.de) (online, English support)
2. Upload university acceptance letter + passport
3. Within 3-5 business days, the Versicherungsbescheinigung (insurance certificate) will arrive via email
4. Submit this document to the university for Immatrikulation
5. After Anmeldung (registration), your TK card will arrive by post (~1-2 weeks)

Transition trick: Get Mawista for 3 months for the visa (~€90-150 total), then switch to TK upon arrival in Germany. Cancel Mawista — some companies do not refund the AT/11 document, but this is not a problem because you now have your TK document.

#Combo Insurance + Sperrkonto Options

Some FinTechs offer a blocked account (Sperrkonto) + health insurance combo:

Advantage: Everything in one package. Disadvantage: If insurance + blocked account are done separately, it can be a total of €20-40 cheaper.

Sperrkonto comparison → in detail.

#Common Mistakes (from the community)

#Mistake 1: Applying for two insurances simultaneously

"I applied online for insurance from BARMER and TK Techniker, but I didn't think both would be active. Now my insurance seems to have started in both places — what should I do?"

Solution: Cancel the one you don't prefer within 30 days (cancellation period). Send a cancellation letter via email, and you will receive a refund. If you delay by 2 months, you will be charged double.

#Mistake 2: Confusing Allianz's online visa insurance with actual treatment insurance

"Does the insurance I got from Allianz cover hospital expenses?"

Allianz Turkey's "student visa insurance" product only covers emergencies + travel. If you are living in Germany for a long time, you will encounter problems during your first hospital visit. You must switch to statutory insurance.

#Mistake 3: Being forced to accept DAK by Fintiba

"When registering with Fintiba, it forced me to approve DAK health insurance. I was planning to get AOK insurance..."

Solution: DAK is the default in the Fintiba Plus package. Get the Fintiba Basic package (only blocked account, no insurance), and arrange AOK separately yourself. Plus = forced combo, Basic = flexible.

#Mistake 4: Believing insurance obtained in Turkey is long-term valid

"Is it logical to get health insurance in Turkey or in Germany? Will the insurance I got in Turkey be a problem for those staying long-term?"

SGK extension or private insurance obtained in Turkey is not accepted for university enrollment in Germany. It is only OK for the first 90 days for the visa. Afterwards, you must switch to German statutory insurance.

#Decision Matrix — Who should get what?

#Frequently Asked Questions

"Is it logical to get insurance in Turkey or in Germany?" For the visa, get Mawista/Allianz in Turkey, then switch to statutory TK/AOK upon arrival in Germany. They are for different periods and different purposes.

"Is DAK health insurance as good as TK?" Almost the same. Monthly price difference is ~€2. Customer support: TK > BARMER > AOK > DAK for English. There is no Turkish support, but TK's English customer hotline is very good.

"I got a blocked account (Sperrkonto) + insurance with Expatrio, it shows €11,380 but it should be €11,904 — is this a problem?" Yes, €11,904 is the minimum. The shortfall comes from currency transfer (TRY → EUR exchange rate, bank commission). The missing amount must be completed — transfer again to Expatrio. You might get a visa rejection with an insufficient blocked amount.

"I'm coming with family — how much is insurance for spouse and children?" TK family coverage: spouse + children under 18 are free (within the student's tariff). With Mawista, each individual is separate (~€30-50/month). Statutory insurance is much cheaper for families.

#Next Steps

• 🏦 Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) Finder — Providers with combo insurance packages
• 💸 Visa Costs — Total of insurance + blocked account + other items
• 📅 Application Timeline — Planning insurance start date

Source: TK, AOK, BARMER, DAK student tariffs (2026), Expatrio + Fintiba product pages, 10 real questions from the ApplyToGerman (AlmanyaUni) community (Telegram insurance + visa pool). Prices may vary by company and age group — verify before applying.