For students, AOK NordWest charges 112.94 € per month for health insurance in 2026. With long-term care insurance the total is 143.72 € if you are under 23 or have a child, and 148.85 € if you are childless and 23 or older. The additional contribution rate is 2.99 %. Student insurance ends with the semester in which you turn 30. After that, the minimum voluntary contribution for childless members is 279.35 € per month.
The key facts at a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Additional contribution 2026 | 2.99 % |
| Region | North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein |
| Student insurance under 23 (health and care) | 143.72 € per month |
| Student insurance 23 or older, childless (health and care) | 148.85 € per month |
| Minimum voluntary contribution from 30, childless | 279.35 € per month |
| Minimum voluntary contribution from 30, with child | 271.44 € per month |
| Source and date | Additional contribution from the GKV-Spitzenverband list, status 24.10.2026. Contributions are our own calculation. |
These amounts apply to compulsory student health insurance. The additional contribution is set by each insurer and can change. The rate that AOK NordWest publishes itself is the binding one. Its student page does not state a contribution amount or an additional contribution rate. It refers to general AOK offers for students, which according to the page differ by region. The calculation in this article therefore follows the additional contribution in the health insurer list.
The insurer responsible is the AOK of your place of residence or place of study. Students living or studying in North Rhine-Westphalia or Schleswig-Holstein are insured with AOK NordWest. If you move to another federal state, the regional AOK there applies. An overview of all regional AOKs is in the article AOK for students: regional differences, contributions and admission (German).
What does AOK NordWest cost students per month?
AOK NordWest does not offer a separate student tariff. Students are insured under statutory student health insurance (KVdS), which follows a fixed formula. The contribution is based on an assessment base of 855 € per month, which corresponds to the BAföG living cost rate. This base applies even if you do not receive BAföG.
- Assessment base: 855.00 € per month (475 € basic need plus 380 € housing allowance).
- Basic rate: 10.22 % of 855.00 € gives 87.38 €. This is seven tenths of the general contribution rate of 14.6 %.
- Additional contribution of AOK NordWest: 2.99 % of 855.00 € gives 25.56 €.
- Health insurance: 87.38 € plus 25.56 € gives 112.94 €.
- Long-term care insurance: 30.78 € (3.6 %) if you are under 23 or have a child, 35.91 € (4.2 %) if you are childless and 23 or older.
- Total: 143.72 € under 23 or with a child, 148.85 € childless and 23 or older.
What applies at 25 and at 30?
Family insurance ends at 25
Up to your 25th birthday you can be insured as a family member through a parent who is in statutory health insurance. Your regular total monthly income in 2026 must not exceed 565 €. For a mini job, the limit is 603 € (§ 10 SGB V). The age limit is extended by periods of certain voluntary services, by up to twelve months. From your 23rd birthday, the surcharge for childless members applies, which adds 5.13 € per month. Our glossary article Family insurance during study (German) explains the rules in more detail.
Student insurance ends at 30
Compulsory student insurance ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30 (§ 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 9 SGB V). An extension is possible in certain cases, for example after the birth of a child or a longer illness of at least three months. The insurer checks such cases individually. Details are in the articles Health insurance as a student over 30 and Studying at 30 (both German).
If student insurance ends, you usually remain a voluntary member of AOK NordWest, unless you can show other cover. A minimum assessment base then applies. The minimum contribution for 2026 is calculated as follows:
- Minimum assessment base: the 2026 reference value of 3,955.00 € divided by 3 gives 1,318.33 € per month.
- Health insurance: reduced rate of 14.0 % plus additional contribution of 2.99 % gives 16.99 %, which is 223.98 €.
- Long-term care insurance: 47.46 € (3.6 %) with a child, 55.37 € (4.2 %) childless.
- Total: 271.44 € with a child, 279.35 € childless.
The minimum contribution assumes low income. Higher income raises the contribution up to the contribution assessment ceiling of 5,812.50 € per month.
What applies to working students and mini jobbers?
A working student job or mini job usually does not change your insurance, as long as your studies remain the main focus. For self-insured students, the insurer generally allows up to 20 hours per week during the semester. More is possible during lecture-free periods and in evening, night or weekend work, limited to 26 weeks per year.
| Situation | Effect on health insurance |
|---|---|
| Working student, up to 20 hours per week | No health or care contributions are due from the job, and student insurance continues. Pension insurance remains compulsory. |
| Employment of more than 20 hours on a regular basis | The working student privilege ends, and compulsory insurance as an employee may apply. It takes precedence over student insurance. |
| Mini job up to 603 € per month | Student insurance continues. For mini jobbers in family insurance, the limit is 603 € instead of 565 €. |
Which services does AOK NordWest offer students?
The student page names general AOK offers for students and gives no euro amounts. It does not mention a bonus program with amounts for students. The page lists the following:
- Branch offices at many universities.
- Advice for students.
- Online seminars for students.
Source: AOK NordWest, service for trainees, career starters and students, accessed 25.10.2026, last updated according to the page on 14.09.2026.
How do you switch to AOK NordWest?
You register with AOK NordWest, and the insurer handles the cancellation with your previous health insurer. The rules are set out in § 175 SGB V:
- Right to choose: you may choose your health insurer from the age of 15. As a student, you must choose within two weeks of becoming compulsorily insured.
- Online application: apply with AOK NordWest. Notifying the new insurer replaces the cancellation, and confirmation from the previous insurer follows within two weeks at the latest.
- Notice period: membership ends at the end of the second calendar month after notice. Notice given in January takes effect on 1 April.
- Binding period: you are generally bound to the new insurer for twelve months. This does not apply if membership ends by law, for example when family insurance ends.
- Special right of termination: if your insurer raises its additional contribution, you can terminate by the end of the month from which the higher rate applies. Termination takes effect only with proof of other cover.
The article Switching health insurance as a student (German) describes the process in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Does AOK NordWest offer a student tariff?
No. AOK NordWest offers statutory student health insurance. The contribution follows the statutory formula and comes to 112.94 € per month for health insurance in 2026, with the additional contribution of 2.99 %.
What is the additional contribution of AOK NordWest in 2026?
According to the GKV-Spitzenverband list, it is 2.99 %. Applied to the assessment base of 855 €, this is 25.56 € per month.
What does AOK NordWest cost at 30?
After student insurance ends, the minimum voluntary contribution for 2026 is 279.35 € per month for childless members and 271.44 € with a child, in each case including long-term care insurance. Higher income increases the contribution.
When can I leave AOK NordWest?
Generally after twelve months of binding membership. If the additional contribution rises, you can leave earlier under the special right of termination.
Sources
- GKV-Spitzenverband, health insurer list (additional contribution of AOK NordWest, status 24.10.2026)
- AOK NordWest, service for trainees, career starters and students (last updated according to the page 14.09.2026)
- § 175 SGB V, exercise of the right to choose
- § 5 SGB V, compulsory insurance, § 10 SGB V, family insurance, § 236 SGB V, contribution assessment
- GKV-Spitzenverband, 2026 reference values fact sheet
Status: October 2026. This article provides general information and does not replace individual advice. To check your own situation, you can use the Academycon online check.
