Your blocked account service costs €227 to €278 across a year. Your health insurance costs six to eight times that — and one decision about it cannot normally be undone.
Almost every student assumes they buy one insurance. In practice your cover changes as you move through the process, and the expensive stage starts quietly.
Travel or incoming health insurance covering you from arrival until your studies begin. Often bundled free with a blocked account package — Expatrio states free DR-WALTER cover up to 92 days; Fintiba states free MAWISTA cover up to 183 days.
€0 – €35 / monthOnce you enrol at university, proper German health insurance begins. With bundled packages this switches over automatically — which is why so many students are surprised by the first charge.
€141 – €151 / monthThe student tariff normally ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30. After that you move to voluntary public insurance or a private policy, at a materially different price.
Varies significantlyAlmost every insurance question a student asks comes down to three facts about them. Find your row.
| Your situation | Your normal route | Roughly per month | The catch to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 23, enrolled at an accredited university | Public student insurance (GKV) | €141 – €146 | Cheapest public band. You keep it until the semester in which you turn 23, then the childless rate applies. |
| 23 to 29, enrolled at an accredited university | Public student insurance (GKV) | €146 – €152 | The standard case. You may apply for exemption to go private — read the exemption box below before you do. |
| 30 or older at enrolment | Voluntary public, or a private / expat policy | Varies widely | The student tariff normally ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30. Prices change substantially. |
| Language course or Studienkolleg, not yet enrolled | Private or incoming policy | €30 – €120 | You are not yet a "student" for public insurance purposes. Check your consulate accepts the specific policy. |
| Between arrival and the start of your semester | Incoming / travel cover | €0 – €35 | Often included free in a blocked account bundle. This is the gap most students forget exists. |
Age bands, eligibility and premiums are set by the funds and by German law, and both change. This table is a starting point for understanding your situation, not a determination of it — confirm with the fund and your university's international office.
Public funds are legally required to cover the same core medical benefits, so the monthly difference between them is small. What differs is service, English-language support and administration.
| Fund | Under 23, or with a child | 23 and over, childless | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| TK (Techniker) | €141.16 | €146.29 | English-language service available. Enrolment certificate sent to your university automatically after approval. |
| AOK Baden-Württemberg | €143.72 | €148.85 | AOK contributions vary by regional branch — check the AOK for your state. |
| DAK | €145.52 | €150.65 verify direct | Figures sourced from a third-party comparison page; confirm with DAK before relying on them. |
| BARMER | €146.29 | €151.42 | The fund bundled into Fintiba's package. Rate depends on age and whether you have children. |
Monthly premiums for student tariffs, taken from each fund's own published pages and verified on 4 September 2026, except where marked. Rates change annually and can vary by regional branch. Always confirm with the fund before enrolling.
Private and international policies often advertise a far lower monthly figure. They are not equivalent products, and for accredited university students under 30 the choice carries a consequence explained below.
| Product | Monthly | Who it is for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAWISTA Student | from €28 | International students, tariff-dependent | The lowest advertised figure here. Coverage and eligibility differ substantially from a public student tariff — do not compare the price alone. |
| DR-WALTER EDUCARE24 S | €34.50 | Up to age 39; various education and visa groups | Stated as meeting visa requirements. University acceptance at enrolment must be checked for your specific situation. |
| Feather expat health | €72 basic / €134 premium | Ages 18–64; often students over 30 or non-accredited programmes | Visa-compliant, usable up to five years from arrival. This is not equivalent to statutory student insurance. |
| Care Concept — Care Student | €101.54 (12–29) €127.60 (30–39) |
Students within those age bands | Listed price includes €31.92 nursing insurance. Visa and university acceptance should be checked per case. |
| ottonova Study Smart | €117 | Eligible students, tariff-dependent | A substitutive private policy — this is the kind of choice the exemption rule below applies to. Study Protect €116, Study Free €133. |
Premiums as advertised on each provider's own pages, verified 4 September 2026. Private policies vary enormously in what they actually cover, in age limits, and in whether a given university will accept them at enrolment. A lower monthly figure does not mean a comparable product.
If you are an accredited university student under 30, you are normally in the public student system by default. You can apply to be exempted in order to take private insurance instead — and the low advertised premiums make that tempting.
But TK states plainly that this exemption cannot normally be reversed. It generally binds you for the whole of your studies. If your health situation changes, if the private premium rises, or if you simply change your mind, the public route is usually closed to you for that period.
This is the single most consequential insurance decision an international student makes in Germany, and it is the one most often made on the basis of a monthly figure alone. Before choosing exemption, confirm the current rule with the fund itself and with your university's international office.
Free MAWISTA incoming cover, stated up to 183 days, then either BARMER public insurance or a MAWISTA private tariff depending on your eligibility.
The cover switches automatically once your official university enrolment begins, and you only pay for one policy at a time.
Free DR-WALTER incoming cover, stated up to 92 days, then TK public insurance or a private policy through DR-WALTER or ottonova depending on your profile.
The enrolment certificate is sent to your university automatically once your application is approved.
Bundles are convenient and the incoming cover is genuinely useful. They are not automatically the cheapest route, and which insurer you are placed with depends on eligibility rules you should understand before signing. Verified against each provider's help centre on 4 September 2026.
The tables above give you the numbers. If you want someone who has actually chosen between these — same country, same age bracket, same university situation — leave your email and we will connect you. €20 for thirty minutes on WhatsApp.
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