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Student Health Insurance Comparison

Health insurance is mandatory for your German student visa and university enrolment. Compare public, private and expat options side by side and pick what fits your situation.

7

Providers compared

~€136

Public (GKV) monthly

~€30+

Expat plan monthly

30

GKV age limit

Which health insurance do I need to study in Germany?

Enrolled students under 30 take public (statutory/GKV) insurance such as TK, AOK or BARMER (~€136/month) — it is valid for both the visa and university enrolment. During a language course or Studienkolleg, or if you are over 30 / a PhD candidate, you use cheaper expat insurance (DR-WALTER, MAWISTA) or private insurance (ottonova) for the visa.

  1. Identify your phase — Language course / Studienkolleg → expat. Enrolled degree student → public (GKV).
  2. Check your age — Under 30 and enrolled → public. Over 30 / PhD / scholar → private (PKV).
  3. Pick a provider — Compare price, visa acceptance and enrolment validity in the table below.
  4. Get the confirmation — Use the insurance certificate for your visa appointment and matriculation.

Which type is right for me?

Public · GKV

Enrolled & under 30

Mandatory statutory insurance for degree students. Valid for both visa and enrolment. ~€136/month, fixed by law.

Expat · Incoming

Language course / Studienkolleg

Cheap cover (from ~€30/month) accepted for the visa before you can join a public fund. Not valid for degree enrolment on its own.

Private · PKV

Over 30 / PhD / scholar

For those who cannot join a public fund. Broader coverage but pricier, and switching back to public is hard.

Filter: All Cheapest Public (GKV) Expat / Incoming Private (PKV) Valid for enrolment English support

Compare at a glance

Provider Monthly Type Visa English
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) €136 Gesetzlich (GKV) Apply →
AOK €135 Gesetzlich (GKV) Apply →
BARMER €136 Gesetzlich (GKV) Apply →
DR-WALTER (PROVISIT / EDUCARE24) €33–79 Expat / Incoming Apply →
MAWISTA €32–98 Expat / Incoming Apply →
Care Concept €29–89 Expat / Incoming Apply →
ottonova €170–300 Privat (PKV) Apply →

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FEATURED
Te

Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)

Gesetzlich (GKV)

Best for: Enrolled students under 30

Germany’s largest public health fund and the most popular choice among international students. Full statutory coverage accepted for both the visa and university enrolment.

Monthly

€136

Visa

Accepted

Enrolment

Valid

Age limit

≤ 30

Dental Pregnancy Mental health English support Online signup
Visit site → View details

Last verified: 2026-06-10

AO

AOK

Gesetzlich (GKV)

Best for: Enrolled students under 30

A regional network of statutory health funds with strong local branch presence — handy for in-person help in your university city.

Monthly

€135

Visa

Accepted

Enrolment

Valid

Age limit

≤ 30

Dental Pregnancy Mental health English support Online signup
Visit site → View details

Last verified: 2026-06-10

BA

BARMER

Gesetzlich (GKV)

Best for: Enrolled students under 30

One of the largest statutory funds, partner of several student-services bundles (e.g. Fintiba). Full coverage for visa and enrolment.

Monthly

€136

Visa

Accepted

Enrolment

Valid

Age limit

≤ 30

Dental Pregnancy Mental health English support Online signup
Visit site → View details

Last verified: 2026-06-10

DR

DR-WALTER (PROVISIT / EDUCARE24)

Expat / Incoming

Best for: Language course / Studienkolleg phase

Affordable incoming insurance widely accepted for the visa during the language-course / Studienkolleg / application phase, before you can join a public fund.

Monthly

€33–79

Visa

Accepted

Enrolment

No

Age limit

None

Dental English support Online signup
Visit site → View details

Last verified: 2026-06-10

MA

MAWISTA

Expat / Incoming

Best for: New arrivals / first months

Flexible incoming/expat plans for newcomers, language students and guest researchers. Monthly cancellation; popular for the pre-enrolment window.

Monthly

€32–98

Visa

Accepted

Enrolment

No

Age limit

None

Dental Pregnancy English support Online signup
Visit site → View details

Last verified: 2026-06-10

Ca

Care Concept

Expat / Incoming

Best for: Language course / Studienkolleg phase

Budget incoming cover (Care College / Visum) for the visa and the first months before switching to a statutory fund.

Monthly

€29–89

Visa

Accepted

Enrolment

No

Age limit

None

Dental English support Online signup
Visit site → View details

Last verified: 2026-06-10

ot

ottonova

Privat (PKV)

Best for: Students over 30 / PhD / scholars

Fully digital private health insurer (PKV) in English — a strong fit for students over 30, PhD candidates and scholarship holders who cannot join a public fund.

Monthly

€170–300

Visa

Accepted

Enrolment

No

Age limit

None

Dental Pregnancy Mental health English support Online signup
Visit site → View details

Last verified: 2026-06-10

Public or private — can I choose?

If you enrol in a degree program and are under 30, you are required to take public (statutory/GKV) insurance — you cannot freely pick private. Private (PKV) is only for those who cannot join a public fund (over 30, PhD candidates, scholarship holders). Once you choose private as a student, switching back to public is very difficult.

Good to know

  • • During a language course / Studienkolleg, cheap expat insurance (DR-WALTER, MAWISTA) is enough for the visa.
  • • Once you enrol in a degree, you move to a statutory fund (TK/AOK/BARMER) — required for matriculation.
  • • Bundles like Expatrio/Fintiba simply route you to TK or DR-WALTER; you can also sign up directly.
  • • Over 30 or a PhD/scholarship holder? You cannot join a public fund — use a private (PKV) plan.

Blocked Account

Sperrkonto providers

Visa Cost

Total visa budget

Cost of Living

Monthly expenses by city

Prices and coverage are taken from the providers' own sites and may change. Public (GKV) rates are regulated and nearly identical across funds. Always verify on the official site before signing up. ApplyToGerman may have affiliate partnerships with some providers — it costs you nothing extra and supports the platform.

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