Health insurance in Germany
Health insurance is mandatory in Germany — for the visa, for your enrolment, and by law. International students typically need two policies: pre-arrival travel insurance for the visa, then either public statutory insurance (under 30) or private insurance (over 30) once enrolled.
⚠️ Important
- •Without proof of valid health insurance, your visa will be rejected.
- •Without proof of valid insurance, German universities will not let you enrol.
- •Switching between public and private insurance in Germany is one-way — choose carefully.
Two types you need to know
🛬
Pre-arrival / visa insurance
Covers you from your home country through the visa appointment, your flight, and your first 0–3 months in Germany before public insurance kicks in. Required for the visa application.
- Needed by
- Everyone applying for a student visa
- Duration
- 30 days – 5 years (depending on plan)
- Coverage
- Emergency medical care, hospitalization, dental emergencies, repatriation.
🏥
Public statutory (GKV)
The standard for international students under 30. Once you're enrolled in a German university, you can join a public statutory health insurance company (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung). Roughly €125/month, broad coverage, almost no out-of-pocket.
- Needed by
- Students under 30 who plan to study long-term in Germany
- Duration
- Throughout your studies
- Coverage
- Doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, mental health, dental basic — almost everything.
🏛️
Private student insurance (PKV)
For students over 30, students in language courses, students in preparatory programmes (Studienkolleg), or those who explicitly opt out of public insurance. Usually cheaper monthly but more limited.
- Needed by
- Students over 30, language-course students, preparatory students
- Duration
- Throughout your studies
- Coverage
- Doctor visits and hospitalization, but often with deductibles, dental and pregnancy limits.
🛬 Pre-arrival / visa insurance
3 providersDR-WALTER Educare24
Travel + study insurance
Cost
From €30/month
Setup
Online in 15 minutes
Coverage
Up to 5 years
Bundle
Often bundled with Expatrio Value Package
✓ Pros
- •Recognized by all German embassies for visa
- •Bundled with Expatrio blocked account (popular for South Asian students)
- •Covers pre-arrival + arrival period seamlessly
- •Direct billing with German doctors (no paperwork upfront)
- •Free cancellation if visa is denied
✗ Cons
- •Not a long-term solution — switch to public insurance after enrolment
- •Deductible per claim (€50–100)
- •Limited dental and pregnancy coverage
Best for
Most international students applying via Expatrio — comes bundled with the blocked account.
Mawista Student
Travel + study insurance
Cost
From €33/month
Setup
Online in 10 minutes
Coverage
Up to 5 years
Bundle
Standalone or with Fintiba blocked account
✓ Pros
- •Recognized by German embassies
- •Available standalone (you don't need a specific blocked account provider)
- •Wide coverage including prep courses and language schools
- •English customer support
- •Refund if visa denied
✗ Cons
- •Deductible €50/claim for outpatient treatment
- •Some dental procedures excluded
- •Need to switch to public insurance once enrolled in a degree programme
Best for
Students using Fintiba, or those who want standalone visa insurance without bundling.
Care Concept Camp Aid
Travel + study insurance
Cost
From €33/month
Setup
Online in 10 minutes
Coverage
Up to 5 years
Bundle
Standalone — works with any blocked account provider
✓ Pros
- •Recognized by all German embassies
- •Strong support for African and South Asian markets
- •Includes preparatory courses (Studienkolleg)
- •Repatriation included
- •Refund on visa denial
✗ Cons
- •Smaller customer base than DR-WALTER / Mawista
- •Deductible per claim
- •Pregnancy coverage limited
Best for
Students wanting a standalone insurance independent of their blocked account provider.
🏥 Public statutory (GKV)
3 providersTK (Techniker Krankenkasse)
Public statutory insurance
Cost
About €125/month
Setup
Online English application
Coverage
Throughout your studies (under 30)
Bundle
Often offered alongside Expatrio / Fintiba bundles
✓ Pros
- •Most popular public insurance among international students
- •English customer service and English app (TK-App)
- •Broad coverage — doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, mental health
- •Wide network of doctors accepting TK directly
- •Once enrolled, very smooth switch from pre-arrival insurance
✗ Cons
- •€125/month is a real cost (vs €30 pre-arrival)
- •Required to switch from private to public can be paperwork-heavy
- •Only available if you're under 30 and enrolled in a recognized German university
Best for
Standard choice for international students under 30 in degree programmes. If unsure, choose TK.
DAK-Gesundheit
Public statutory insurance
Cost
About €125/month
Setup
Online English application
Coverage
Throughout your studies (under 30)
Bundle
Often bundled with Fintiba
✓ Pros
- •Second-most popular public insurance for international students
- •English support and app
- •Bundled with Fintiba (one less form to fill)
- •Strong digital health features (telemedicine, online prescriptions)
- •Mental health support included
✗ Cons
- •Same €125/month as TK
- •Slightly smaller doctor network in some smaller cities than TK
Best for
Students using Fintiba (bundle), or those preferring stronger digital tools.
AOK
Public statutory insurance (regional)
Cost
About €125/month
Setup
In-person or online (regional offices)
Coverage
Throughout your studies (under 30)
Bundle
Standalone
✓ Pros
- •Strong regional presence — fastest for in-person help
- •Excellent coverage in specific German states (Bayern, Baden-Württemberg)
- •Good for families and longer-term residents
✗ Cons
- •Less English support than TK or DAK
- •Regional structure means switching states requires switching to a different AOK branch
- •Smaller digital health offering
Best for
Students who prefer in-person service or who plan to stay long-term in one German state.
🏛️ Private student insurance (PKV)
2 providersMawista Postgraduate
Private student insurance
Cost
From €105/month
Setup
Online in 15 minutes
Coverage
Up to 5 years
Bundle
Standalone
✓ Pros
- •Recognized by German universities for enrolment
- •Cheaper than TK/DAK (€105 vs €125)
- •For PhD students, students over 30, and Studienkolleg students
- •Repatriation included
✗ Cons
- •Deductible per claim
- •Limited coverage for chronic conditions
- •Pregnancy and dental coverage limited
- •Cannot switch to public later if you change your mind
Best for
Students over 30, PhDs, or those in preparatory programmes who can't access public insurance.
Allianz Care Student
Premium private student insurance
Cost
From €135/month
Setup
Online English application
Coverage
Throughout your studies
Bundle
Available via Expatrio's Allianz upgrade option
✓ Pros
- •Premium provider — Germany's largest insurer
- •Strong digital tools and 24/7 English support
- •Wider coverage than budget private options
- •Dental and pregnancy coverage included (most plans)
- •Optional add-ons for travel, gadgets
✗ Cons
- •Most expensive private option (€135/month)
- •Cannot switch to public later
- •Cancellation requires written notice
Best for
Older students who want premium coverage without the public insurance bureaucracy.
Don't overthink this
Honest decision tree
For visa application:
Use the insurance bundled with your blocked account provider. Expatrio + DR-WALTER covers 80% of South Asian students. Fintiba + Mawista is the alternative.
For long-term (under 30, degree programme):
TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) — default choice. English support, broad network, most popular among international students.
For over 30, language course, or Studienkolleg:
Mawista Postgraduate or Allianz Care Student. Read the limits carefully before signing — private is one-way.
ⓘ Disclosure: Some providers (DR-WALTER, Mawista, Care Concept) run affiliate programmes. We may earn a commission if you sign up via our links — at no cost to you. We only recommend providers we'd choose ourselves. Final choice is always yours.
Common questions
Do I really need health insurance to get a German student visa?+
Yes. Without proof of valid pre-arrival health insurance covering at least the first 30–90 days in Germany, the embassy will not approve your visa. Most students bundle insurance with their blocked account provider (Expatrio + DR-WALTER, Fintiba + Mawista, etc.).
What's the difference between public and private insurance?+
Public (GKV) is for students under 30 in degree programmes — €125/month, broad coverage, minimal paperwork. Private (PKV) is for students over 30, in language courses, or preparatory programmes — typically €100–135/month with more limits.
Can I switch from private to public insurance later?+
Generally NO. Once you commit to private insurance as an adult student, it's very difficult to switch to public. This is the most important decision: if you're under 30 and in a degree programme, choose public (TK or DAK) by default.
Which is best for visa: DR-WALTER, Mawista, or Care Concept?+
All three are recognized by German embassies. DR-WALTER if you're using Expatrio (it's bundled), Mawista if you're using Fintiba, Care Concept if you want a standalone independent of your blocked account provider. Pricing is similar (€30–35/month).
How much does insurance cost in total during my studies?+
Pre-arrival (3 months): ~€90–105 total. Then public insurance: €125/month × 12 months/year = €1,500/year × duration of studies. Budget €1,500–2,000/year for insurance.
Do I need separate dental insurance?+
Public insurance covers basic dental (checkups, fillings). For braces, implants, or cosmetic dentistry, you'll need supplementary dental insurance (€10–25/month). Most students delay dental work or do it at home where it's cheaper.
What if my visa is denied — can I get a refund?+
Yes. All three pre-arrival providers (DR-WALTER, Mawista, Care Concept) offer full refunds if your visa is denied. You'll need to submit your visa rejection letter to claim the refund.
What's the exact step-by-step?+
1) Apply for pre-arrival insurance (DR-WALTER / Mawista / Care Concept) — €30/month. 2) Use it for visa application. 3) Travel to Germany. 4) Once enrolled in your university, switch to public insurance (TK or DAK) within 90 days. 5) Notify your pre-arrival insurer to cancel.