Student health insurance in Germany: TK vs AOK, costs, and what changes at 30

Health insurance is mandatory for university enrollment in Germany. You cannot complete Immatrikulation (enrollment) without a Mitgliedsbescheinigung (membership certificate) from a German health insurer. No exceptions. The university will not let you register for classes, get your student ID, or access any services without it.

The good news: student health insurance in Germany is heavily subsidised and costs roughly €120 per month across all providers. The bad news: the rules change drastically when you turn 30 or exceed 14 semesters.

The student tariff (under 30)

If you are under 30 years old and enrolled full-time at a recognised German university, you qualify for the studentische Krankenversicherung (student health insurance tariff).

Cost in 2026: approximately €120 per month total, which includes:

• Health insurance (Krankenversicherung): ~€88
• Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung): ~€27 to €32 (higher if you are over 23 and childless)

This rate is identical across all public insurers. TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK, IKK, they all charge the same student rate. The difference is service quality, not price.

TK vs AOK vs Barmer: which one to pick

Since the cost is the same, choose based on service:

TK (Techniker Krankenkasse)

• Most popular among international students in Germany
• English-language customer service phone line and email
• Good mobile app (TK-App) for finding doctors, submitting claims, and ordering replacement Gesundheitskarte
• Online Mitgliedsbescheinigung generation (instant PDF)
• Widest brand recognition at university enrollment offices

AOK

• Region-specific (AOK Bayern, AOK Nordost, AOK Baden-Württemberg, etc.)
• Strong in-person presence with local offices
• English support varies by region (AOK Bayern is better than AOK Sachsen)
• Good for students who prefer face-to-face help
• Some regional AOKs offer additional benefits (dental cleanings, osteopathy)

Barmer

• Third-largest insurer in Germany
• Good English online portal
• Similar app quality to TK
• Slightly lower profile among Indian students, but functionally equivalent

Our recommendation

TK for most Indian students. The English support, app quality, and instant digital Mitgliedsbescheinigung make the enrollment process smoother. If you are in Bavaria and prefer in-person support, AOK Bayern is a strong alternative.

You can switch insurers after 12 months if you are unhappy. The process is simple (the new insurer handles the paperwork).

How to sign up and get the Mitgliedsbescheinigung

1. Before arriving in Germany (recommended): visit the insurer's website (tk.de, aok.de, barmer.de) and start the application online. Expatrio users with TK bundled can skip this step.
2. Provide your documents: passport, university admission letter, German address (after Anmeldung), and visa.
3. Receive your Mitgliedsbescheinigung: a digital PDF confirming your membership. TK generates this instantly online. AOK and Barmer may take 1 to 3 business days.
4. Submit to your university: upload or present the Mitgliedsbescheinigung during Immatrikulation.
5. Receive your Gesundheitskarte: the physical health insurance card arrives by post in 2 to 4 weeks. Until then, a temporary certificate works for doctor visits.

Travel insurance: covering the gap

Your German student health insurance starts on the day your university enrollment begins (usually 1 October or 1 April). If you arrive in Germany before that date, you need travel health insurance (Reisekrankenversicherung) to cover the gap.

Options:

• DR-WALTER Provisit Student: popular incoming tariff for international students, covers pre-enrollment period
• MAWISTA: similar incoming student tariff
• Allianz Travel: if bundled through Fintiba

These cost €30 to €80 per month and cover emergencies, doctor visits, and hospitalisation until your student insurance activates.

Important: the German embassy requires proof of health insurance for your visa application. The incoming travel insurance satisfies this requirement for the visa period. Your Sperrkonto provider (Fintiba or Expatrio) typically bundles a suitable policy.

What changes when you turn 30

This is the cliff that catches Indian students off guard. On the day you turn 30 (or after your 14th semester, whichever comes first), you lose the subsidised student rate.

Your options after 30:

Voluntary public insurance (freiwillige Versicherung)

• Cost: approximately €220 to €250 per month (income-dependent, calculated on a minimum assumed income for students)
• Same coverage as before
• Same provider (you stay with TK, AOK, etc.)
• You must actively opt in within 2 weeks of losing the student tariff

Private insurance

• Cost: €150 to €300+ per month depending on age, health, and coverage level
• Cheaper than voluntary public if you are healthy and under 35
• Major downside: harder to switch back to public later, premiums increase with age, no Familienversicherung
• Most Indian students should avoid private unless they are certain they will leave Germany after studies

What to do

If you are turning 30 during your Masters:

• Budget for the jump from €120 to ~€230/month
• Voluntary public is almost always the right choice for students who plan to stay in Germany and work after graduation
• Contact your insurer 2 months before your 30th birthday to understand the transition process

Private insurance for students over 30

Some students arrive in Germany already over 30 (common for MBA programs and career changers). In this case:

• You cannot access the subsidised student rate
• You choose between voluntary public (€230/month) and private (€150 to €300/month)
• Most universities accept either
• Private insurers popular with over-30 students: MAWISTA, Care Concept, DR-WALTER (these are incoming tariffs, not full German PKV)

Warning: incoming tariffs have coverage limits (e.g., no chronic disease treatment, limited dental). They work for 1 to 2 years. If you plan to stay longer, switch to voluntary public as soon as possible.

Dental and vision

Student health insurance covers:

• Dental checkups: 1 per year, fully covered
• Basic dental treatment: fillings and extractions covered
• Major dental work: crowns, bridges, implants, partially covered (50 to 65%) after you have been insured for 5+ years with documented annual checkups. New arrivals get lower coverage.
• Vision: glasses are NOT covered for most adults. Budget €100 to €300 for frames and lenses at Fielmann or Apollo

Common mistakes

• Not signing up before enrollment: without the Mitgliedsbescheinigung, you cannot enrol. Start the process 2 to 4 weeks before the semester begins.
• Using Indian travel insurance for enrollment: German universities require a German public or private insurer, not international travel insurance. Your Indian policy does not count.
• Ignoring the 30-year cliff: students who turn 30 mid-semester sometimes discover the cost jump only when their premium doubles. Plan ahead.
• Choosing private insurance to save money: €150/month at age 28 becomes €400+ at age 40. If you plan to stay in Germany, public is almost always better long-term.

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Frequently asked questions

Q: How much does student health insurance cost in Germany in 2026?

A: The subsidised student tariff costs approximately €120 per month total — around €88 for health insurance (Krankenversicherung) plus €27–€32 for long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung). This rate is the same at every public insurer (TK, AOK, Barmer, DAK). It applies to students under 30 years old enrolled in a recognised full-time degree programme. If you are over 23 and childless, your Pflegeversicherung contribution is slightly higher.

Q: Can I use Expatrio to get TK health insurance before I arrive in Germany?

A: Yes. Expatrio offers a bundled package that includes a blocked account (Sperrkonto) plus TK health insurance enrolment. When you complete your Expatrio application, TK sends you the Mitgliedsbescheinigung directly. This is the fastest route for Indian students because you arrive with the enrollment certificate already in hand — no need to set up a separate TK application after landing.

Q: What happens to my student health insurance after the 14th semester?

A: After your 14th semester (or on your 30th birthday, whichever comes first), you are automatically removed from the subsidised student tariff. Your insurer will write to you asking how you want to continue. If you do nothing within two weeks, you get enrolled in voluntary public insurance (freiwillige gesetzliche Versicherung) which costs roughly €220–€250 per month for students with low declared income. You must actively opt in — call your insurer at least 2 months before hitting the deadline.

Q: Is TK better than AOK for Indian students?

A: TK is the most popular choice for Indian students specifically because of its English-language customer service (phone and email), strong mobile app, and the ability to generate your Mitgliedsbescheinigung instantly as a PDF online. AOK is region-specific and the quality of English support varies — AOK Bayern is decent, some other regional AOKs are German-only. Both charge the same student rate, so TK is the practical default unless you strongly prefer in-person support.

Q: Does my German student health insurance cover visits to a doctor before my university semester officially starts?

A: No — your public student insurance only activates on the first day of the semester (1 October or 1 April in most cases). If you arrive in Germany earlier, you need incoming travel insurance (Reisekrankenversicherung) such as DR-WALTER Provisit Student or MAWISTA to cover the gap. Your Sperrkonto provider (Fintiba or Expatrio) usually bundles a suitable policy. Keep that policy active until the semester start date.

Q: Can I stay on family insurance (Familienversicherung) as a student instead of enrolling myself?

A: Only if a parent is enrolled in German public health insurance (GKV). If your parent works in Germany and is covered by a German insurer, you can be co-insured as a family member for free until age 25 (while studying). If your parents are in India with Indian insurance, this route is not available. Most Indian students arrive without German-insured parents, so individual student enrolment is the standard path.

Related guides

• Krankenversicherung: German health insurance, explained
• Finding a Hausarzt in Germany
• Fintiba vs Expatrio: which blocked account for Indian students
• Student life in Germany: Sperrkonto, visa, and the first semester
• First 30 days in Germany: the Indian arrival checklist
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