Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) for students is a compulsory contribution that students pay entirely by themselves. Whether a childless surcharge (Kinderlosenzuschlag) also applies depends on two things: your age and whether you have children. This guide works through the 2026 contribution, explains the exemptions and shows what is planned for 2027.
Short answer: Students who are compulsorily insured pay a long-term care contribution of 3.6 percent in 2026 on an assessment base of 855 euros, which is 30.78 euros a month. Without a child, a surcharge of 0.6 contribution-rate points applies from the month after the 23rd birthday, bringing the total to 35.91 euros. Last updated: October 2026 (GKV-Spitzenverband, Federal Ministry of Health).
The most important points
- The long-term care contribution is 3.6 percent of the assessment base of 855 euros a month in 2026.
- The childless surcharge is 0.6 contribution-rate points and applies from the month after you turn 23.
- Students with a child do not pay the surcharge and stay at 30.78 euros a month.
- As a student you bear the long-term care contribution alone, because no employer contributes.
- A surcharge of 0.7 points is planned for 2027. The law is not yet in force.
How high is the long-term care contribution for students?
The calculation uses the same assessment base as health insurance. For students who do not live with their parents, this is 855 euros a month (§ 236 SGB V, as of 1 January 2026). The general contribution rate for long-term care insurance has been 3.6 percent since 1 January 2025. The Federal Ministry of Health and the GKV-Spitzenverband both give this rate.
| Group | Contribution rate | Contribution per month (assumption: 855 euros) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students with a child | 3.6 percent | 30.78 euros | GKV-Spitzenverband, as of 1 January 2026 |
| Students without a child up to the completion of their 23rd year of life | 3.6 percent | 30.78 euros | GKV-Spitzenverband, as of 1 January 2026 |
| Students without a child from the month after their 23rd birthday | 4.2 percent (3.6 plus 0.6) | 35.91 euros | GKV-Spitzenverband, as of 1 January 2026 |
Calculation step by step: how the surcharge works
The surcharge is the difference between the two rates. The steps below let you check the figures against your own contribution notice.
- Set the assessment base: 855 euros a month for students who do not live with their parents (§ 236 SGB V).
- Apply the contribution rate without surcharge: 3.6 percent.
- Add the surcharge for childless members from 23: 0.6 contribution-rate points, making 4.2 percent in total.
- Calculate the contribution without surcharge: 855 times 3.6 percent gives 30.78 euros.
- Calculate the contribution with surcharge: 855 times 4.2 percent gives 35.91 euros.
Worked example. Assumption: the assessment base stays at 855 euros and you are over 23 without a child. The difference is then 5.13 euros a month (calculated), or about 61.56 euros a year. This is arithmetic on the figures above, not a statement from your insurer.
Who is exempt from the surcharge?
The surcharge depends on two features: age and whether you have children. The rule is set out in Book XI of the Social Code (SGB XI). The timing matters. The surcharge applies only from the month after your 23rd birthday. Until then, the standard rate applies.
- Members up to the completion of their 23rd year of life do not pay the surcharge.
- Members with a child do not pay the surcharge, even if they are over 23.
- Members without a child from the month after they complete their 23rd year of life pay the 0.6-point surcharge.
A common mix-up is confusing the surcharge with the additional contribution of your health insurer. The additional contribution belongs to health insurance and has nothing to do with the childless surcharge. Long-term care insurance is separate, even if both amounts appear on the same notice.
What is planned for 2027?
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the Long-Term Care Reform Act (PNOG) plans to raise the surcharge from 2027 by 0.1 points to 0.7. The total rate for people without children would then be 4.3 percent. The general contribution rate would stay at 3.6 percent. The federal cabinet adopted the draft on 30 September 2026. The law is not yet in force, and it cannot yet be confirmed whether the increase remains unchanged in the adopted version.
For planning, use the current surcharge of 0.6 points and check the final version after promulgation. Changes take effect only from the date the law sets.
What happens after your studies?
Once you take up employment, the rules for sharing contributions change. The childless surcharge still applies to members without children from the age of 23, because it is linked to age and children rather than to student status. The guide on the transition to work explains the next steps: Career start after university: how to get off to a good start (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay the surcharge if I have a child?
No. Members with a child do not pay the surcharge. Students with a child stay at the rate of 3.6 percent, which is 30.78 euros a month on an assessment base of 855 euros (GKV-Spitzenverband, as of 1 January 2026).
From which month exactly does the surcharge apply?
The surcharge applies from the month after the completion of the 23rd year of life. If your 23rd birthday is on 10 March, the surcharge starts in April. Check your notice, because your health insurer states the start date there.
Why do students pay the long-term care contribution alone?
Students without an employment contract have no employer who shares the contributions. For that reason they pay the long-term care contribution on their own (GKV-Spitzenverband, as of 1 January 2026). Employment brings different rules for sharing the contributions.
Does my contribution rise automatically in 2027?
No. An increase applies only once the law enters into force. Then the new rate applies from the date the law sets. Until then, the existing rate applies.
What applies if I am covered by family insurance?
Then you pay no separate long-term care contribution as a student, because you are covered as a family insured member of another person (§ 10 SGB V). Family insured people pay no contribution of their own. The surcharge applies to members who are themselves liable to pay contributions, for example students who are insured in their own right.
How can I recognise the surcharge on my notice?
The surcharge is shown as a separate item or within the long-term care contribution. If it is included, the amount of 35.91 euros matches 855 times 4.2 percent. If it is missing although you are over 23 without a child, clarify this with your health insurer.
What to do now
- Check whether you have already completed your 23rd year of life and whether you have children.
- Calculate your contribution with 855 euros and the matching rate, which is 3.6 or 4.2 percent.
- Compare the result with your contribution notice and note the month from which the surcharge applies.
- Follow the legislative process for the PNOG before you plan anything for 2027.
- Report changes to your health insurer, for example if your family situation or your status changes.
Related guides
- Krankenversicherung im Studium in Teilzeit mit Kind
- Student Health Insurance Germany 2026: Rates and Example
- Long-Term Care Childless Surcharge 2026: Rates
- Student Family Insurance 2026: Income Limits and Age
Sources: GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on calculation variables for contribution law 2026 (as of 1 January 2026, in German); Federal Ministry of Health, childless surcharge (as of 14 September 2026, in German); Federal Ministry of Health, explanation of the PNOG measures (as of 4 June 2026, in German); Federal Government, Long-Term Care Reform Act (cabinet decision 30 September 2026, in German); Social Code Book V, § 236 (accessed October 2026, in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
