Health Insurance at 31 to 44 While Studying

Short answer

Health insurance at 31 to 44 while studying is usually no longer the statutory student scheme. You are then insured voluntarily under the statutory system or privately. In 2026 voluntary statutory cover costs at least 278.17 euros a month if you have no children. BAföG is possible if your degree starts before your 45th birthday and includes supplements for insurance. The KfW student loan is tied to a maximum age of 44.

What does health insurance at 31 to 44 while studying look like?

The obligation to take statutory student health insurance (KVdS) ends when the semester of your 30th birthday ends. After that it continues only if your fund recognises an extension reason. The guide Krankenversicherung mit 30 im Studium (in German) lists the reasons. Whether starting a degree after 30 triggers the obligation at all is not clearly documented in the sources we checked. Ask your fund before you enrol.

Without the KVdS you can choose voluntary statutory or private health insurance. Family insurance is only possible through a spouse, see Familienversicherung über den Ehepartner im Studium (in German).

What does voluntary health insurance cost while studying?

The minimum base is one third of the reference figure. 3,955.00 euros divided by 3 equals 1,318.33 euros. The 2026 calculation without a sickness benefit entitlement and with the average additional contribution runs as follows.

1. Health insurance. 1,318.33 times 16.9 percent (14.0 percent reduced rate plus 2.9 percent additional contribution) equals 222.80 euros.
2. Long-term care insurance with the surcharge for people without children. 1,318.33 times 4.2 percent equals 55.37 euros.
3. Total. 222.80 plus 55.37 equals 278.17 euros a month.

With a child the surcharge does not apply. Long-term care insurance then costs 47.46 euros and the total is 270.26 euros. Higher income raises the contribution, because the fund assesses it on your total economic capacity.

How does BAföG reduce the contribution?

If you receive BAföG from 30, you get supplements of up to 185 euros (health insurance) and 48 euros (long-term care insurance). These are maximum amounts and are paid only if BAföG is granted. Example with the maximum amounts.

1. Health insurance. 222.80 minus 185.00 equals 37.80 euros.
2. Long-term care insurance. 55.37 minus 48.00 equals 7.37 euros.
3. Remainder. 37.80 plus 7.37 equals 45.17 euros a month.

The draft of the 30th BAföG Amendment Act provides supplements of 223 euros and 56 euros. It is not current law yet.

Which funding is possible at 31 to 44?

For BAföG the age at the start of the training stage counts. It must fall before your 45th birthday. From 30 your parents’ income is generally no longer taken into account, and the asset allowance rises to 45,000 euros. The KfW student loan scales the funding period by age. It allows 14 semesters up to 24, 10 semesters up to 34 and 6 semesters up to 44. Example for the maximum amount.

1. At age 35 to 44, 6 semesters apply, which is 36 months.
2. Maximum amount. 36 times 650 euros equals 23,400 euros.
3. At age 25 to 34, 10 semesters apply, which is 60 months. Maximum amount. 60 times 650 euros equals 39,000 euros (calculated).

The figures for the student loan come from the KfW leaflet of November 2023. Check the current terms on the KfW product page. More options are in Studium über 30 finanzieren (in German).

How to proceed

1. Ask your fund before enrolling whether the KVdS applies to you or whether you will be insured voluntarily.
2. Recalculate the contribution with your fund’s additional contribution using the formula above.
3. Apply for BAföG early, because the insurance supplement depends on approval.
4. Check your age for the KfW student loan on the cut-off date of 1 April or 1 October before funding begins.

Frequently asked questions

Is there still student health insurance at 35?

As a rule, no. The obligation ends with the semester of your 30th birthday. Only a recognised extension reason can prolong it, and the fund checks each case individually.

Can I still get BAföG at 40?

Yes, if your training stage starts before your 45th birthday and the other conditions are met. Sources describe the limit partly as 44 and partly as 45. The statutory wording refers to the 45th year of life.

What does private health insurance cost while studying?

That depends on the tariff, your age and the health check. This guide does not give a fixed figure.

Does anything change in 2027?

The official additional contribution for 2027 has not been set yet, and the estimators expect 2.9 percent. According to the draft ordinance the minimum base rises to 1,376.67 euros. Neither is binding yet.

Sources

• Section 5 SGB V (students), section 8 SGB V, section 10 BAföG (age limit). Gesetze im Internet, accessed 20 Oct 2026.
• GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 contribution figures, as of 1 Jan 2026.
• German Student Services, BAföG rates, as of 2026.
• KfW, student loan leaflet, as of November 2023. Check the current terms.

Related guides

• Studieren mit 30: Chancen, Finanzierung und Alltag (in German)
• Krankenversicherung als Student über 30 (in German)
• Studieren mit 45: BAföG, Versicherung, Kredit (in German)
• Glossar Krankenversicherung im Studium (in German)

Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.

For a first look at your situation, use the online check (in German).