IKK Südwest student health insurance costs 120.47 € a month in 2026 for statutory health cover. With care insurance you pay 151.25 € (under 23 or with a child) or 156.38 € (23 or older, no children). The additional contribution is 3.87 %. Student cover ends with the semester of your 30th birthday, after which the voluntary minimum without children is 290.96 € a month.
IKK Südwest admits students who live or study in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. According to the GKV-Spitzenverband fund list, the fund is open only in these regions.
At a glance: the facts about IKK Südwest
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Additional contribution 2026 | 3.87 % |
| Open to | regionally: Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| Student insurance under 23 (health and care) | 151.25 € per month |
| Student insurance from 23, no children (health and care) | 156.38 € per month |
| Voluntary minimum from 30, no children | 290.96 € per month |
| Voluntary minimum from 30, with a child | 283.05 € per month |
| Source and date | Additional contribution from the GKV-Spitzenverband fund list (statutory health insurance association), as of 24 October 2026. Amounts calculated by us. The fund’s contributions page shows the same 3.87 % (change date stated on the page: 18 May 2026). |
These amounts apply to compulsory statutory student insurance. The additional contribution is set by each fund and can change. The rate that IKK Südwest itself states is the binding one.
What does IKK Südwest cost for students?
IKK Südwest offers no separate student tariff. It provides statutory student health insurance (KVdS, Krankenversicherung der Studierenden) under one fixed formula. The assessment basis of 855 € a month applies whether or not you receive BAföG (German student financial aid). The contribution works out as follows:
- Assessment basis: 855.00 € a month.
- Base contribution: 10.22 % of 855.00 € gives 87.38 €.
- Additional contribution of IKK Südwest: 3.87 % of 855.00 € gives 33.09 €.
- Health insurance: 87.38 € plus 33.09 € gives 120.47 €.
- Care insurance: 30.78 € (3.6 %) under 23 or with a child, 35.91 € (4.2 %) from 23 without children.
- Total: 151.25 € under 23 or with a child, 156.38 € from 23 without children.
How the additional contribution of IKK Südwest compares with all other funds is shown in the table of the guide Zusatzbeiträge 2026 aller Krankenkassen (in German). One percentage point of additional contribution equals 8.55 € a month for students.
What applies at IKK Südwest from 25 and from 30?
Family insurance ends at 25
Until your 25th birthday you can be covered as a student through a parent who is a member of a statutory fund. This holds as long as your total income in 2026 does not exceed 565 € a month, or 603 € with a mini job (section 10 SGB V, Social Code Book V). The age limit can only be extended by periods of statutory or voluntary service, not by study time. From your 23rd birthday a care insurance surcharge for people without children applies, which adds 5.13 € a month. The glossary entry Familienversicherung im Studium (in German) covers this in more detail.
Student insurance ends at 30
Compulsory student insurance ends when the semester in which you turn 30 ends (section 5(1) no. 9 SGB V). There has been no maximum number of subject semesters since 2020, so the age limit decides. An extension is possible if the type of training or personal reasons justify going beyond it. The fund checks this case by case. The guides Krankenversicherung als Student über 30 and Studieren mit 30 (both in German) give details.
Once student insurance ends, you normally stay with IKK Südwest as a voluntary member unless you prove other cover. A minimum assessment basis then applies. This is how the 2026 minimum contribution works out:
- Minimum assessment basis: reference amount of 3,955.00 € divided by 3 gives 1,318.33 € a month.
- Health insurance: reduced rate of 14.0 % plus additional contribution of 3.87 % gives 17.87 %, which is 235.59 €.
- Care insurance: 47.46 € (3.6 %) with a child, 55.37 € (4.2 %) without children.
- Total: 283.05 € with a child, 290.96 € without children.
The minimum applies to low income. With higher income the contribution follows that income, up to the contribution ceiling of 5,812.50 € a month.
What applies to working students and mini jobs at IKK Südwest?
A working student job or mini job usually changes nothing about your cover while your studies remain the main activity. Weekly hours and earnings decide.
| Situation | Effect on health insurance |
|---|---|
| Working student up to 20 hours a week | The job triggers no health or care insurance contributions and student insurance continues. Pension insurance remains compulsory. |
| Employment regularly above 20 hours | The working student privilege lapses and compulsory insurance as an employee may arise. It takes priority over student insurance. |
| Mini job up to 603 € a month | Student insurance continues. Under family insurance, mini jobbers have a limit of 603 € instead of 565 €. |
The details are described in the guide Werkstudent: 20-Stunden-Regel, Rentenversicherung und Semesterferien (in German).
Which extra benefits does IKK Südwest list for young members?
IKK Südwest lists several offers with amounts on its pages for students. We reproduce them here without judgement. The details come from the fund and can change.
- Health account: according to the fund, reimbursement of more than 500 euros for private health services, for example a skin cancer screening or professional teeth cleaning. Source: IKK Südwest, health insurance for students (German), accessed 25 October 2026. The page gives no update date.
- IKK NOW: the fund describes its bonus programme as a flexible offer for young people, with up to 300 euros in cash. Source: IKK Südwest, health insurance for students (German), accessed 25 October 2026. The page gives no update date.
- Health courses: up to 300 euros, or 200 euros for health trips as an alternative. Source: IKK Südwest, health insurance for students (German), accessed 25 October 2026. The page gives no update date.
- IKK Rückenstark: up to 300 euros for therapeutic back training. Source: IKK Südwest, health insurance for students (German), accessed 25 October 2026. The page gives no update date.
- Travel vaccinations: up to 300 euros towards vaccination costs. Source: IKK Südwest, health insurance for students (German), accessed 25 October 2026. The page gives no update date.
Which offers suit you depends on your situation. The current conditions are set out on the fund’s pages.
How do you switch to IKK Südwest?
You register with the new fund, which takes over the cancellation with your previous fund. The deadlines are set by section 175 SGB V:
- Right to choose: as a student you can freely choose your health fund. You must make the choice within the statutory deadline after your compulsory insurance begins.
- Application: submit the application to IKK Südwest. Your registration replaces the notice to your previous fund.
- Notice period: membership ends at the close of the second calendar month after notice is given. Notice given in January takes effect on 1 April.
- Commitment: as a rule you are bound to the new fund for twelve months.
- Special right of termination: if a fund raises its additional contribution, you can give notice until the end of the month from which the higher rate applies. The twelve-month commitment then does not matter.
The guide Krankenkasse wechseln als Student: Fristen, Ablauf und Sonderkündigungsrecht (in German) covers this in full.
Frequently asked questions
Does IKK Südwest offer a student tariff?
No. IKK Südwest provides statutory student health insurance. The contribution follows the statutory formula and, with the 2026 additional contribution of 3.87 %, amounts to 120.47 € a month for health insurance.
What is the additional contribution of IKK Südwest in 2026?
According to the GKV-Spitzenverband fund list it is 3.87 %. Applied to the assessment basis of 855 €, this is 33.09 € a month. The average additional contribution is 2.9 %.
Until when am I covered by family insurance at IKK Südwest?
As a student until your 25th birthday, if your total income in 2026 does not exceed 565 € a month, or 603 € with a mini job. After that, student insurance usually follows.
What does IKK Südwest cost at 30?
After student insurance ends, the voluntary minimum for 2026 is 290.96 € a month without children and 283.05 € with a child, in each case including care insurance. Higher income increases the contribution.
Can I stay with IKK Südwest as a working student?
Yes, as long as you work up to 20 hours a week. If you regularly work more, compulsory insurance as an employee may arise.
When can I leave IKK Südwest again?
In principle after twelve months of commitment. If the additional contribution rises, the special right of termination applies earlier.
Sources
- GKV-Spitzenverband, fund list (additional contribution and regional opening of IKK Südwest, as of 24 October 2026)
- IKK Südwest, health insurance for students (German, accessed 25 October 2026, no update date on the page)
- IKK Südwest, contributions (German, accessed 25 October 2026, change date stated on the page: 18 May 2026)
- Section 175 SGB V, exercise of the right to choose, section 5 SGB V, compulsory insurance, section 10 SGB V, family insurance
- GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 reference figures
If you want to classify your own situation, you can use the Academycon online check.
Related reading
- Krankenkassen für Studierende: alle Kassen im Überblick (in German)
- Zusatzbeiträge 2026 aller Krankenkassen und was Studierende zahlen (in German)
- IKK classic für Studierende (in German)
- IKK – Die Innovationskasse für Studierende (in German)
- Studieren mit 30: Chancen, Finanzierung und Alltag (in German)
- Werkstudent: 20-Stunden-Regel, Rentenversicherung und Semesterferien (in German)
- Familienversicherung im Studium (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
