How to cancel student health insurance?

There are specific rules for canceling student health insurance — incorrect timing leads to continued premium payments.

#Cancellation Process

#1. Written Notification Required

• Send a Kündigung (cancellation) notification via email or post
• TK, AOK, and Barmer also accept cancellations via their online portal (TK app is suitable)

#2. Cancellation Periods (Kündigungsfrist)

• 18-month mandatory insurance period — to switch to a new GKV (by law)
• Cancellation period after 18 months: 2 months prior notice
• Immediate cancellation if there is a Sondergrund (special reason):
  • If you are leaving Germany (proof of relocation)
  • If you are switching to family insurance (proof of Familienversicherung)
  • If your spouse works in Germany + you are switching to their insurance

#3. Document Requirements

#Scenarios

#Scenario 1: You graduated, returning to Turkey

1. Go to the Bürgeramt → complete your Abmeldung (deregistration from Germany)
2. Send the Abmeldebescheinigung to the insurance company (email/post)
3. Insurance ends on the Abmeldung date
4. The full premium is charged for the last month (no daily calculation)

#Scenario 2: You are changing universities, moving to another city

• Insurance does not change automatically, notify them of your new address
• You can continue with the same insurance
• If you use AOK, automatic transfer to AOK in the new Bundesland (e.g., AOK Bayern → AOK Berlin)

#Scenario 3: Switching to another GKV after 18 months

1. Register with the new GKV (TK, AOK, Barmer, etc.)
2. The new GKV automatically sends the cancellation message to the old GKV
3. The switch to the new insurance occurs on the 1st of the month (e.g., if you switch on January 1st, the old one cancels at the end of December)

#Scenario 4: Graduated + Found a job (Werkstudent → full-time)

• Student insurance automatically converts to employee insurance
• Automatic transition at the start of the employment contract
• You can continue with the same insurance company (TK, AOK generally keep the same person)

#Important Notes

• If the cancellation period is calculated incorrectly → you may need to pay 1-2 months of additional premiums (within the Kündigungsfrist)
• If you do not complete your Abmeldung when leaving Germany → insurance does not automatically stop, premiums accumulate
• Visa insurance (Hanse Merkur, Mawista) → online cancellation is more flexible, unused months are refunded

#Practical Advice

1. Inform the insurance company 2 months before graduation
2. Cancellation is not accepted without Abmeldung (for GKV)
3. Application via online portal is fast (TK app, AOK web)
4. Request a cancellation certificate — it may be needed as proof for new insurance

#Next Step: Returning to Turkey

• Activate SGK in Turkey (if you worked in Germany, combine your retirement years)
• If you need German/international health insurance, research private insurance in Turkey
• If there is a possibility of returning to Germany, keep your insurance file (for re-registration)

Related: Monthly insurance fee.