🏥 Health Insurance in Germany — Which One & What It Costs
Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. Answer two questions and see what you need and the realistic monthly cost.
What you need
Public insurance (GKV) at the fixed student rate
Every public insurer must offer the student tariff — full coverage, no health questions. TK is the most popular with internationals. Enrolment proof is required for university registration.
Where to get it
2026 rates, rounded. GKV contributions vary slightly by insurer (Zusatzbeitrag). Not insurance advice — confirm rates with the provider.
How health insurance works in Germany (GKV vs PKV vs incoming)
Health insurance is legally mandatory in Germany — no visa, university enrolment or job without proof of it. About 90% of residents use public insurance (GKV): students under 30 pay a fixed ~€130–145 monthly rate, apprentices and employees pay roughly 8–9% of gross salary with the employer covering the other half, and family members without income are co-insured free. Private insurance (PKV) is reserved for high earners, freelancers and civil servants — cheaper when young and healthy, but hard to leave later.
The trap most newcomers miss: the gap between landing and starting university or work. GKV only begins with enrolment or employment, but the visa requires coverage from day one — that is what incoming insurance is for (~€30–80/month for up to a few months). Choose your Krankenkasse once and well: all cover the same core services, but English-speaking support and app quality differ. This chooser gives you the realistic number for your exact situation before you sign anything.