If you study in Germany with a disability, you will quickly ask what statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) pays for aids, how high the copayment is and what support your university offers. The answers depend on whether you are insured statutorily or privately. This guide explains the basic rules for disability at university and shows where you can find additional support.
Short answer: If you are in the statutory system, your health insurer covers medically necessary aids once they are prescribed and approved. You pay a copayment (Zuzahlung) of 10 percent of the price per aid, at least 5 and at most 10 euros (§ 61 SGB V). The annual cap is 2 percent of your income, or 1 percent if you have a chronic illness (§ 62 SGB V). Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Aids such as hearing devices, wheelchairs or prostheses are covered by health insurance if they are medically necessary (§ 33 SGB V).
- The copayment is 10 percent of the price, at least 5 and at most 10 euros per aid (§ 61 SGB V).
- The annual cap limits all copayments in a calendar year to 2 percent of your gross income for living expenses, or 1 percent for chronic illness (§ 62 SGB V).
- Your university decides on compensation for disadvantages in exams and coursework, not your health insurer.
- Disability-related extra costs under the BAföG (federal student grant) are assessed case by case by the responsible office.
Which aids does statutory health insurance cover?
Aids (Hilfsmittel) are devices that compensate for a disability, for example hearing devices, wheelchairs, prostheses or communication aids. Statutory insurance pays when the device is medically necessary, prescribed by a doctor and approved by the insurer. The GKV umbrella organisation (GKV-Spitzenverband) maintains the official list of aids that can be claimed.
Not every product that helps in daily life counts as an insured aid. Ask for the prescription and a cost estimate before you buy, so there are no unpleasant surprises later.
How high is the copayment, and when are you exempt?
For aids you generally pay 10 percent of the price yourself. The law sets a minimum of 5 euros and a maximum of 10 euros. The copayment may also never be higher than the cost of the aid itself (§ 61 sentence 1 SGB V). The table below shows three examples.
| Price of the aid (assumption) | Copayment per aid | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 80 euros | 8 euros (10 percent) | § 61 SGB V |
| 300 euros | 10 euros (maximum) | § 61 SGB V |
| 30 euros | 5 euros (minimum, not more than the cost) | § 61 SGB V |
What does the annual cap mean in practice?
Once your copayments in a calendar year reach the cap, you no longer have to pay further copayments for the rest of that year. The cap is 2 percent of your gross annual income for living expenses. For chronic illness it is 1 percent (§ 62 SGB V). Your insurer checks whether you count as chronically ill under the statutory criteria. Copayments include medicines and therapies, not only aids.
- Assumption: your gross income for living expenses is 12,000 euros a year, and you are not chronically ill.
- Cap: 2 percent of 12,000 euros is 240 euros a year.
- Copayments so far this year: 200 euros. You continue to pay.
- If another 40 euros are added, the cap is reached. The insurer then issues you an exemption certificate.
What support exists at university itself?
Compensation for disadvantages (Nachteilsausgleich) balances disability-related barriers in exams and coursework, for example through extra time, adapted rooms or permitted aids in written tests. It is not granted automatically. You apply to the examination office or to your university’s officer for students with disabilities. Often the university asks for a medical or expert report. Our guide on barrier-free study (in German) covers the details.
A severe disability card (Schwerbehindertenausweis) is not required for many forms of compensation, but it can serve as proof for offices and universities. The German student services organisations (Studierendenwerke) explain which proof is useful.
What role does the BAföG play?
The BAföG (federal training grant) can in some cases take disability-related extra costs into account. The office for training support (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) decides case by case whether and how much. The standard amounts below apply in the general case.
| Component (BAföG, current law) | Amount per month | Valid since |
|---|---|---|
| Basic amount for students | 475 euros | 1 August 2024 |
| Housing allowance, living away from home | 380 euros | 1 August 2024 |
| Maximum rate, under 25, living away from home | 855 euros | January 2026 |
What changes with private health insurance?
With private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV), the reimbursement depends on your tariff. Some tariffs reimburse aids from an open catalogue, others from a closed one, and some only up to fixed maximum amounts. If you are privately insured, check before buying whether your tariff covers the aid. We explain the differences in our guide on aids in private insurance (in German). A personal consultation helps when tariff and situation have to fit together: how a consultation with Academycon works (in German).
Typical pitfalls
- Buying an aid before the prescription or approval exists, in which case the insurer may pay nothing.
- Not keeping copayment receipts, which leaves you without proof for the cap.
- Applying for compensation shortly before the exam, although deadlines already apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does the health insurer pay for a wheelchair in full?
A wheelchair is an aid. The insurer covers the medically necessary supply, minus your copayment of 10 percent, at least 5 and at most 10 euros. The insurer decides which model it covers, based on the prescription and approval. Get a cost estimate before you buy.
Do I need approval before I get an aid?
In many cases yes. The insurer checks the prescription and the necessity before you receive the aid. Ask your insurer which documents it needs and wait for the decision before buying.
Does the cap also apply to medicines?
Yes. All copayments within one calendar year add up, including medicines and therapies. Once the cap is reached, the insurer issues you an exemption certificate. The cap applies to each calendar year.
Can the university adjust exams for me?
The university can grant compensation for disadvantages if its examination rules provide for it. The decision lies with the examination office or an expert committee. Apply as early as possible, ideally before your first exam date.
Do I need a severe disability card for compensation?
Not necessarily. The card can help as proof, but it does not replace the justification in your individual case. Ask the counselling service for students with disabilities which documents your university requires.
What to do now
- Check with your statutory insurer or private insurer whether the aid is reimbursed.
- Get the prescription and a cost estimate before you order anything.
- Collect all copayment receipts for the calendar year so you can check the cap.
- Apply for compensation at your university and clarify the BAföG extra costs with the responsible office.
Related reading
- Copayment Exemption and Out-of-Pocket Limit for Students
- BAföG Rates 2026/27: Figures, Allowances and Limits
- Hilfsmittel in der PKV: Offener und geschlossener Katalog (in German)
Sources:
- § 33 SGB V, aids (statute)
- § 61 SGB V, copayments (statute, October 2026)
- § 62 SGB V, annual cap (statute)
- Studierendenwerke, disability card in study (2026)
- German Student Union, BAföG standard rates (2026)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
