Key facts
- Family insurance ends at a total income above €565 per month (mini-job: €603) in 2026.
- Student health insurance costs €142.96 (under 23 or with a child) or €148.09 (childless from 23) per month in 2026, at the average supplementary contribution of 2.9%.
- Voluntary members pay on at least €1,318.33 per month in income. Figures on this page are from the sources named in each table, with their status.
The key figures for student health insurance in 2026 are these. Family insurance ends at a total income above €565 per month (mini-job: €603). Student compulsory insurance (KVdS) costs about €143 to €148 per month at the average supplementary contribution of 2.9%, and it ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30. Voluntary members pay at least on a base of €1,318.33 per month. Every figure on this page comes with its source and status. The page is reviewed at the turn of the year.
The essentials in brief
- Family insurance: up to age 25, income limit €565 per month, mini-job €603.
- KVdS: basic contribution €87.38 plus supplementary contribution and nursing care, in total €142.96 or €148.09 at 2.9%.
- Voluntary insurance: minimum basis €1,318.33, contribution rate 14.0% plus supplementary contribution.
- BAföG supplement for health and nursing care insurance: €102 and €35 up to 30, €185 and €48 from 30.
Up to what age do family insurance and the KVdS apply?
Family insurance applies to students up to 25, and the student compulsory insurance ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30.
| Rule | Value | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family insurance without further condition | up to 18 | § 10 SGB V | ongoing |
| Family insurance, not employed | up to 23 | § 10 SGB V | ongoing |
| Family insurance during school or vocational training, studies or a voluntary social or ecological year | up to 25 | § 10 SGB V | ongoing |
| Extension of family insurance beyond 25 | up to twelve months during a voluntary federal, youth or military service | § 10 SGB V | ongoing |
| End of the KVdS due to age | end of the semester in which you complete your 30th year of life | § 190 para. 9 SGB V | ongoing |
| KVdS beyond 30 | only with a justification, such as the type of training or family or personal reasons, application for each semester | § 5 and § 190 SGB V | ongoing |
The costs in each age phase are set out in the guide on costs by age, and family insurance is explained in detail in the article on family insurance under 25 (in German). What applies after the age of 25 is in the article on health insurance over 25 (in German). For the period after the age limit, see the guide on health insurance for students over 30.
What is the income limit for family insurance in 2026?
The income limit for family insurance is €565 per month in 2026, or €603 for exclusively marginal employment.
| Rule | Value | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total income in general | €565 per month (one seventh of the monthly reference value) | § 10 SGB V, Ersatzkassenverband vdek | from 1 January 2026 |
| Exclusively marginal employment | €603 per month | Ersatzkassenverband vdek | from 1 January 2026 |
| Employment subject to social insurance after the flat employee allowance of €102.50 | up to €667.50 in pay per month | fund information 2026 | 2026 |
| Self-employment | €565 profit, without the allowance, not as a main occupation | fund information 2026 | 2026 |
| Unforeseeable excess | can be harmless, clarify the duration with the fund beforehand | GKV-Spitzenverband | 2026 |
| Interest | counts only above the savings allowance of €1,000 | fund information 2026 | 2026 |
| Does not count as income | BAföG, child benefit, parental maintenance, housing benefit, parental allowance | fund information 2026 | 2026 |
What is the mini-job limit in 2026?
The mini-job limit is €603 per month in 2026, and the statutory minimum wage is €13.90 per hour.
| Rule | Value | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory minimum wage | €13.90 per hour gross | Federal Government | from 1 January 2026 |
| Mini-job limit | €603 per month | Federal Government | from 1 January 2026 |
| Transitional zone (midi-job) | €603.01 to €2,000 per month | Federal Government, Ersatzkassenverband vdek | from 1 January 2026 |
| Occasional exceedance | unforeseeable in up to two calendar months per year, up to double the limit | fund information 2026 | 2026 |
| Working student | up to 20 hours per week during term time, exempt from health, nursing care and unemployment insurance | fund information 2026 | 2026 |
| Pension insurance for working students | compulsory, 18.6%, split equally | fund information 2026 | 2026 |
| Short-term employment | up to three months or 70 working days per calendar year | fund information 2026 | 2026 |
The mini-job limit and the minimum wage are published by the Federal Government (in German).
What does student health insurance cost in 2026?
In 2026, at the average supplementary contribution of 2.9%, student health insurance costs €142.96 per month (under 23 or with a child) or €148.09 (childless from 23).
| Component | Value | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contribution basis | €855 (BAföG requirement for basic needs of €475 and housing allowance of €380) | BAföG requirement rates | since 1 October 2024 |
| Contribution rate KVdS | 10.22% (70% of 14.6%) | Ersatzkassenverband vdek | 2026 |
| Basic contribution | €87.38 per month, the same nationwide | own calculation | 2026 |
| Supplementary contribution (average) | 2.9%, which is €24.80 per month | BMG announcement of 10 November 2025 | from 1 January 2026 |
| Nursing care, under 23 or with a child | €30.78 per month | own calculation | 2026 |
| Nursing care, childless from 23 | €35.91 per month | own calculation | 2026 |
| Total under 23 or with a child | €142.96 per month | own calculation | 2026 |
| Total childless from 23 | €148.09 per month | own calculation | 2026 |
The table below shows how much the fund’s supplementary contribution changes the amount. The rates come from the GKV-Spitzenverband fund list (in German).
| Supplementary contribution | Health insurance only | With nursing care, under 23 | With nursing care, childless from 23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.18% (lowest rate) | €106.02 | €136.80 | €141.93 |
| 2.9% (average) | €112.18 | €142.96 | €148.09 |
| 4.39% (highest rate) | €124.92 | €155.70 | €160.83 |
Status of the fund list: 16 October 2026. All funds in comparison are in the supplementary contributions 2026 article (in German).
The nursing care contribution is 3.6%, and 4.2% for childless people aged 23 or older.
| Case | Rate | Contribution on €855 per month | Source and status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 23 or one child | 3.6% | €30.78 | Ersatzkassenverband vdek, 2026 |
| Childless from 23 | 4.2% | €35.91 | Ersatzkassenverband vdek, 2026 |
| Two children under 25 | 3.35% | €28.64 | fund information, 2026 |
| Three children under 25 | 3.10% | €26.51 | fund information, 2026 |
| Four children under 25 | 2.85% | €24.37 | fund information, 2026 |
| Five or more children under 25 | 2.60% | €22.23 | fund information, 2026 |
What do voluntary members pay at minimum in 2026?
In 2026, voluntary members pay at least on a base of €1,318.33 of income per month. At a 2.9% supplementary contribution, that is €270.26 to €278.17 per month.
| Rule | Value | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum assessment basis | €1,318.33 per month (one third of the monthly reference value) | § 240 SGB V | from 1 January 2026 |
| Contribution rate without entitlement to sick pay | 14.0% plus supplementary contribution | § 243 SGB V | 2026 |
| Health insurance at 2.9% supplementary contribution | €222.80 per month on €1,318.33 | own calculation | 2026 |
| Nursing care with a child (3.6%) | €47.46 per month | own calculation | 2026 |
| Nursing care childless (4.2%) | €55.37 per month | own calculation | 2026 |
| Total with a child | €270.26 per month | own calculation | 2026 |
| Total childless | €278.17 per month | own calculation | 2026 |
| Contribution assessment ceiling | €5,812.50 per month | German Pension Insurance | from 1 January 2026 |
Without proof of income, the fund calculates with the ceiling, so your proof lowers the contribution.
How much BAföG supplement is there for health insurance?
The BAföG supplement for health insurance is €102 per month up to age 30, and €35 for nursing care.
| Rule | Value | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health insurance supplement up to 30 | €102 per month | § 13a BAföG | 2026 |
| Nursing care supplement up to 30 | €35 per month | § 13a BAföG | 2026 |
| Supplements from 30 (self-paying) | €185 and €48 per month | § 13a BAföG | 2026 |
| Maximum rate under 30, own flat, own insurance | €992 per month | German Student Union (Deutsches Studierendenwerk) | since winter semester 2024/25 |
| Maximum rate with family insurance, own flat | €855 per month | BAföG requirement rates | since winter semester 2024/25 |
| Planned supplements from 1 April 2027 (up to 30) | €121 and €39 per month | government draft, Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 | planned |
The rules on the supplement and private insurance are explained in the article on the BAföG contribution to insurance (in German).
What are the calculation variables for 2026?
The contribution assessment ceiling in 2026 is €5,812.50 per month, and the insurance obligation threshold is €6,450 per month.
| Figure | Value in 2026 | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contribution rate | 14.6% | Ersatzkassenverband vdek | from 1 January 2026 |
| Reduced contribution rate | 14.0% | § 243 SGB V | 2026 |
| Average supplementary contribution | 2.9% | BMG announcement of 10 November 2025 | from 1 January 2026 |
| Nursing care contribution | 3.6% | Ersatzkassenverband vdek | from 1 January 2026 |
| Contribution assessment ceiling | €5,812.50 per month (€69,750 per year) | German Pension Insurance (in German) | from 1 January 2026 |
| Insurance obligation threshold | €6,450 per month (€77,400 per year) | German Pension Insurance | from 1 January 2026 |
What the insurance obligation threshold means for you is explained in the article on the compulsory insurance threshold for students (in German).
Which deadlines apply to health insurance as a student?
The application for exemption from compulsory insurance must be made within three months of the start of compulsory insurance.
| Process | Deadline | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application for exemption from compulsory insurance | three months after the start of compulsory insurance, irrevocable | § 8 SGB V | ongoing |
| Choice of fund at the start of the KVdS | at the latest two weeks after the start of compulsory insurance | Verbraucherzentrale | 2026 |
| Binding to the fund | twelve months | § 175 SGB V | ongoing |
| Termination after the binding period ends | at the end of the second calendar month after the month of notice | § 175 SGB V | ongoing |
| Special termination on an increase in the supplementary contribution | by the end of the month for which it is raised, only with proof of other cover | § 175 SGB V | ongoing |
| Leaving the follow-on insurance | two weeks after the fund’s notice | § 188 SGB V | ongoing |
| Follow-up claim to benefits | at most one month after the end of membership | § 19 SGB V | ongoing |
The binding period does not apply if membership ends by law, for example at the end of the KVdS.
What changes in 2027?
The general contribution rate stays at 14.6% in 2027, and the mini-job limit rises to €633.
| Figure | Value in 2027 | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| General contribution rate | 14.6% | enacted | Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz |
| Statutory minimum wage | €14.60 per hour | enacted | Federal Government |
| Mini-job limit | €633 per month | enacted | Federal Government |
| Transitional zone | €633.01 to €2,000 per month | enacted | Federal Government |
| Income limit for family insurance | €590 per month | planned | Calculation variables 2027 |
| Contribution assessment ceiling | €6,375 per month | planned, Bundesrat still to decide | German Pension Insurance |
| Insurance obligation threshold | €84,150 per year | planned, Bundesrat still to decide | German Pension Insurance |
| BAföG supplements for health and nursing care insurance up to 30 | €121 and €39 from 1 April 2027, €124 and €40 from 1 August 2027 | planned | Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 |
The Federal Ministry of Health announces the average supplementary contribution for 2027 by 1 November. Whether nursing care becomes more expensive for childless people is for the legislature to decide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the income limit for family insurance in 2026?
€565 per month in total income. For exclusively marginal employment, the limit is €603. For employment subject to social insurance, after the deduction of the €102.50 flat employee allowance, earnings of up to €667.50 are possible. BAföG, child benefit and parental maintenance do not count.
What does student health insurance cost in 2026?
At the average supplementary contribution of 2.9%, you pay €142.96 per month if you are under 23 or have a child, and €148.09 if you are childless from 23. The basic contribution is €87.38, and the rest is made up of the supplementary contribution and nursing care insurance.
What is the mini-job limit in 2026?
€603 per month. It has applied since 1 January 2026 and is linked to the minimum wage of €13.90. From 2027, it is €633. In the transitional zone between €603.01 and €2,000, reduced social insurance contributions apply.
Until when does the KVdS apply?
The KVdS ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30, or earlier with exmatriculation at the end of a semester. An extension beyond 30 is possible only with a justification. After that, your insurance continues as voluntary membership, unless you terminate within two weeks of the fund’s notice.
How much BAföG supplement is there for health insurance?
Up to 30, the supplements are €102 for health insurance and €35 for nursing care per month. From 30, they are €185 and €48. You must receive BAföG and insure yourself. A government draft provides for higher amounts from 1 April 2027.
What to do now
- Check your age and situation: family insurance up to 25, KVdS up to the semester of your 30th birthday, voluntary insurance after that.
- Compare your income with €565 (mini-job: €603) if you are family insured.
- Calculate your contribution using your fund’s supplementary contribution, and plan BAföG supplements if you receive BAföG.
- Note the deadlines for exemption, choice of fund and termination.
If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the way to advice on the Academycon homepage (in German).
Related guides
- Health insurance for students in Germany
- Health Insurance for Students Over 30 in Germany
- Extending Student Health Insurance Beyond Age 30
- Health Insurance for PhD Students in Germany
- German original (in German)
Information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative. Last reviewed: 21 October 2026.
