Everyone who lives in Germany must have health insurance. There are two systems. Public insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) is run by insurers such as TK, AOK and Barmer, and costs a percentage of your income. Private insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) prices your policy by age, health and cover. Which one you can choose depends on why you're here.
Students
- Under 30: you're normally in public insurance at the student rate, about €118 to €150 a month including long-term care insurance. The exact figure depends on the insurer's extra contribution and whether you're over 23.
- Going private instead: at the start of your studies you can apply to be exempted from public insurance and take a private policy. The exemption lasts for your whole degree, and switching back is hard.
- 30 and over, or past the 14th semester: the student rate ends. You can stay publicly insured as a voluntary member at a higher rate, or take private insurance.
- Your university needs proof of insurance before it enrols you.
Employees and Blue Card holders
If you earn up to €77,400 a year (this year's threshold, Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze), you're insured publicly through your job. The contribution is 14.6% of your salary plus your insurer's extra contribution (2.9% on average in 2026), split half and half with your employer, plus long-term care insurance. It's deducted from your payslip.
If you earn more than the threshold, you can choose between staying public as a voluntary member and going private. Many Blue Card holders are in this group. Private policies are often cheaper for young, healthy people, but premiums rise with age, family members need their own policies, and returning to public insurance later is restricted.
Expat and incoming insurance
Expat or newcomer policies are private plans that cover the visa application and your first weeks. They're useful before you enrol or start a job. Universities don't accept them for enrolment, and employees must move into public or full private insurance when their job starts.
Compare plans
Public health insurance
Sign up with a public insurer through Feather, in English.
Go to FeatherPrivate health insurance
For students who opt out of public insurance, and employees above the threshold.
Go to FeatherExpat health insurance
Cover for the visa application and the weeks before you enrol or start work.
Go to FeatherOur insurance comparison page lists the three options side by side with what each one covers.
Track Health Insurance in HomeSettled
HomeSettled shows which options fit your situation and reminds you before enrolment or your first working day.
Common questions
I'm an EU citizen. Do I need German insurance?
If you're publicly insured in another EU country and come to study, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may be enough; your university and a German public insurer can confirm. If you work in Germany, you're insured here through your job.
Does a Minijob give me health insurance?
No. A Minijob doesn't make you publicly insured. You need your own insurance, for example as a student.
What's the insurance number for?
Your insurer sends you a health insurance card (Gesundheitskarte) with your number. Doctors read the card; employers and universities ask for the number.
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Sources
Rules and amounts change. Check the official source before you rely on a figure.