If you are deregistered from university because of an illness, or have to interrupt your studies, the question of health insurance comes up quickly. This guide explains when student health insurance (Krankenversicherung der Studierenden, KVdS) ends, what the reason for deregistration changes, and which cover is possible afterwards.
Short answer: Student health insurance (KVdS) ends when the semester ends for which you were last enrolled or re-registered, if you are deregistered. The reason for deregistration does not change this. Afterwards you need new cover, for example family insurance, voluntary statutory insurance (report within three months) or private insurance. Last updated October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- KVdS ends when the last enrolled or re-registered semester ends, if you are deregistered (§ 190 para. 9 SGB V).
- The law links the end to deregistration itself, not to its reason.
- Health insurance is compulsory if you live in Germany. A gap in cover can become expensive.
- Joining voluntary statutory insurance must be reported within three months.
- Before deregistration, ask whether leave of absence (Beurlaubung) is possible. Your university decides this under its own rules.
What legally happens on deregistration?
Membership in KVdS depends on enrolment. Under § 190 para. 9 SGB V, it ends when the semester ends for which you were last enrolled or re-registered, if you are deregistered. The decisive event is therefore the deregistration. The cause, such as an illness, is not a separate ground in this rule.
The semester is decisive. The winter semester runs from 1 October to 31 March, and the summer semester from 1 April to 30 September. If you are deregistered in November 2026 for the winter semester 2026/27, the wording of the rule means you remain in KVdS until 31 March 2027. This calculation shows why the date of deregistration matters.
Does the illness itself matter?
For the end of KVdS, no. The illness does not change the rule in § 190 para. 9 SGB V. It can, however, affect questions about leave of absence or a later return to studies. Your university tells you which evidence it requires. For health insurance, the enrolment remains the reference point.
What about leave of absence?
Leave of absence interrupts your studies without requiring deregistration. Whether it is possible depends on state higher education law and your university’s regulations. The consequences for your health insurance should be clarified in advance with your health fund. Ask both bodies before you apply, so that you do not end up without cover.
Which cover can follow deregistration?
| Situation | Possible cover | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Partner is statutorily insured, total income up to 565 euros (2026) | family insurance under § 10 SGB V | The fund checks income and membership |
| No family insurance, last statutorily insured, prior insurance period met | voluntary statutory insurance under § 9 SGB V | Report joining within three months |
| No other health cover, last statutorily insured | compulsory insurance under § 5 para. 1 no. 13 SGB V | The fund checks the individual case |
| Job with earnings | compulsory insurance as an employee under § 5 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V | The employer registers you with the fund |
| No statutory cover possible or wanted | private health insurance | Health check and own tariff rules |
The duty to hold health insurance for residence in Germany follows from § 193 para. 3 VVG. It does not apply if you are statutorily insured or compulsorily insured. A gap in cover is therefore not an option, even if it lasts only a few weeks.
What does voluntary insurance cost?
As a voluntary member, you pay at least on a minimum assessment base. The 2026 model calculation comes to 270.26 euros per month for health and long-term care insurance without the childless surcharge, using the average supplementary contribution as an assumption. Our German guide Health insurance for a PhD without a job at 30 explains the calculation in detail.
Which documents does the health fund need?
Helpful documents are the deregistration notice with its date, your last enrolment certificate and information on your income. The fund decides which evidence it needs for your situation. If you are unsure, ask in writing. A written answer helps if questions about the start or end of your cover come up later. Note on which day you submitted which documents, because deadlines run from the notification or the obligation.
For health questions, complete documentation matters. This may include medical certificates if the university or the fund requests them. The respective office decides which form is required. Keep copies of everything you send, so that you can show later what you submitted and when. This guide does not replace an individual answer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose my insurance on the day of deregistration?
No. Membership ends when the semester ends for which you were last enrolled (§ 190 para. 9 sentence 1 SGB V). Until then, you remain insured, provided the other conditions are met.
Do I have to arrange new cover myself?
Yes, if neither family insurance nor employment provides cover. This also applies if the deregistration has health reasons. Contact your health fund in time, before the semester ends, so that the transition stays seamless.
What applies if I enrol again?
If you re-enrol at a university within one month, the rule on the end does not apply (§ 190 para. 9 sentence 4 SGB V). Whether KVdS applies again is checked by the fund on the basis of your documents. An overview of transitions between two phases is in our German guide Health insurance between exams and clerkship (in German).
What does a gap in cover cost?
A gap does not solve the problem, it prolongs it. For a private contract applied for more than one month after the obligation arises, a premium surcharge applies (§ 193 para. 4 VVG). A seamless transition is therefore the safest route.
What to do now
- Clarify with your university the end date of your enrolment and whether leave of absence is possible.
- Ask your health fund when KVdS ends and which consequences apply.
- Check whether family insurance or employment provides cover.
- Report joining voluntary insurance within three months, if required.
- Make sure your cover continues without a gap before the semester ends.
Related reading
- Health Insurance for PhD Students in Germany
- Health Insurance for Students Over 30 in Germany
- Health insurance after university: statutory, private, family and transition
Sources: § 190 SGB V, § 9 SGB V, § 10 SGB V, § 5 SGB V (all gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed October 2026), § 193 VVG.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
