Student Service
Navigating the German healthcare system
In Germany health insurance is mandatory. The statutory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) covers all medically necessary healthcare services. Student health insurance (Studentische Krankenversicherung, KVdS) is part of the GKV. It provides reliable healthcare for reduced monthly fees. Good to know: You can be insured under student health insurance until you reach the age of 30 or until the end of your 14th semester.
Attend our webinar for international students
Would you like to learn more about the German healthcare system? Our webinar provides you with a good overview: We explain the most important benefits of statutory health insurance, compare them with private health insurance, and point out specific requirements and differences. You will also learn everything you need to know about the enrolment process at German universities. By the way: As one of the leading providers of statutory healthcare we offer you additional benefits. Curious to find out more?
Book your place on the webinar now and start your studies in Germany well informed.
The sessions begin in January 2026.
EHIC
If you come from an EU country and have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are initially covered. You can register directly at the university. Long-term insurance coverage depends on the duration and structure of your studies. For further information, please feel free to contact us so that we can assist you personally.
Your Health Insurance Card
About two weeks after your registration, you´ll receive your personal health insurance card by post. The front shows your photo, your insurance number, and a microchip that stores your data. The back includes information about your health insurance coverage within the European Union. Bring your card with you to every doctor’s appointment — it allows all costs covered by statutory health insurance to be settled directly. If your card is lost, damaged, or stolen, we will issue a free replacement. If you don’t have your card with you during a doctor’s visit, you must provide proof of insurance within ten days.
Your Health Care contributions
As a student, you can either pay your health insurance contributions in advance for the semester or set up a monthly SEPA direct debit. Payments are debited on the 15th of the following month.
Please ensure payments are made on time — unpaid contributions can lead to your card being blocked under the German Health Insurance Act and your university being notified.
Current rates are listed in the Downloads section. For questions or payment issues, please contact KKH directly.
If you have passed the relevant preparatory course or language test in Germany and are about to enrol at a university, in most cases proof of German statutory health insurance must be submitted when applying to a university.
Instead of complicated procedures and lengthy processing, you can enrol quickly via our online application, we will process your application for health insurance within 2 working days and issue the health insurance certificate for enrolment. Since 1 January 2022, proof is no longer provided via a form from your KKH, but via a data exchange between the health insurance companies and the universities and colleges.
By telephone via our English-speaking hotline:
Available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm; Telephone number: 0511 806849303
By e-mail to: englisch@kkh.de
If you are flying to Germany, you will need your passport, a visa, proof of health insurance, confirmation from a university or preparatory language course, address details or an accommodation contract and proof of a deposit for the customs check.
If you have been accepted to a German university or a language course/preparation course, you will need to find out about the type of health insurance certificate you will need to submit when applying for a visa. As a rule, the German embassy or consulate in your home country requires proof of health insurance with a minimum duration of 3 months to be enclosed with the application documents for entry. Please enquire at the embassy or consulate about additional requirements in special cases.
After arriving in Germany, you must register promptly at the local town hall or residents' registration office; you can usually make an appointment via the website of the local town hall. You must bring the following documents with you to the appointment: Confirmation of reservation (not required in all cities), passport, housing contract and proof of residence (ask the landlord for this). In some cities, additional documents (e.g. letter of authorisation, financial guarantee, etc.) are required. After registration, you will receive a certificate of residence, which must be kept as you will need it for visa extensions, activating bank cards, signing contracts, etc. If you move within Germany, you must re-register accordingly.
Regardless of whether you are coming to Germany to study at a university or to attend a language or preparatory course, you have probably already registered your date of entry with the KKH. To be on the safe side, please contact the KKH after your arrival to make sure that you are covered. If you are travelling as a language or preparatory student and will be enrolled at a university within six months, please contact KKH in good time so that we can help you with all the necessary steps.
Students under the age of 30 who are studying at a state-recognised university or higher education institution in Germany are subject to statutory health and long-term care insurance.
If you have taken out a membership at the start of your enrolment, you are insured with the KKH from this point onwards. The prerequisite is official enrolment at a university in Germany. The duration of health insurance is unlimited and remains valid until cancelled by you.
The start of studies and the start of KKH health insurance are based on the date of receipt by the university. Since 2022, most universities in Germany have introduced the M10 reporting system for the electronic notification of health insurance for the enrolment of students. Please provide us with the full name of the university where you are studying and we will create an electronic online registration or issue a health insurance certificate so that you can complete your enrolment. Please then send us the enrolment certificate from the university.
The social insurance number (or national insurance number for short) is used to identify a person in the social insurance system. With the help of this identification, the pension insurance collects various information that is relevant for the implementation of the insurance and the claiming or granting of social benefits. When you join the KKH, we will apply for your social insurance card and send it to your postal address. You don't have to do anything else. The number will remain with you for the entire time you are in Germany.
The KKH card is your official ID card in Germany, please keep it safe. In the event of loss, demagnetisation, damage, etc., please contact the KKH as soon as possible to obtain a free replacement card.
People with health insurance only need to bring their insurance card with them when they go to a doctor's surgery in Germany. Costs that are covered by statutory health insurance are settled directly via the health insurance card without the need for advance payment. Costs that are not covered by statutory health insurance are to be settled directly with the medical practice
As a student, you can work alongside your studies or complete an internship - however, there are restrictions in terms of working hours so that your main occupation remains studying.
You will need your employer's social security/pension insurance number and proof of health insurance to start work. Please enquire with your employer or check your employment contract to see whether your job is subject to social insurance contributions. In case of doubt, this will also result in changes to your health insurance contributions. If you have any questions, please contact us by phone or e-mail or visit one of our service centres for more information.
If your health insurance is in arrears for a longer period of time for personal reasons or because you have not completed a valid SEPA direct debit authorisation on time, the KKH will notify you several times by letter. If the arrears remain unpaid for several months, your health insurance card may be blocked in accordance with the German Health Insurance Act or the university may be informed that your health insurance has been blocked, which may result in you being deregistered from the school. So please check the KKH payment notices and process them in good time. If necessary, please contact us directly.