If you found a business straight after your degree, you have no employer to handle your health insurance and pension contributions. Founders after graduation therefore need to clarify early how they stay insured, whether pension insurance is compulsory and what the start really costs. This guide places the 2026 figures in context and sets out the steps.
Short answer: Founders after graduation are not automatically compulsorily insured. Often the only route is voluntary statutory health insurance. The minimum contribution for 2026 is 222.80 euros per month for health insurance, plus 47.46 euros for long-term care insurance (assumption: minimum assessment base of 1,318.33 euros per month). Whether pension insurance is compulsory depends on your activity. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- When your student insurance ends, you need a new route. Often it is voluntary statutory health insurance.
- The minimum assessment base for 2026 is 1,318.33 euros per month, which means at least 222.80 euros for health insurance and 47.46 euros for long-term care insurance without the childless surcharge.
- Pension insurance is compulsory for self-employed people only in certain cases, for example for trades registered in the craft register.
- Of a start-up grant, 300 euros per month are not counted in the contribution assessment.
- Losses in the start-up phase can have tax effects later. Loss carry-forward is relevant here.
Health insurance after graduation: voluntary or not
Your student health insurance usually ends when you finish your studies. As a self-employed person you have no employer sharing the contributions. Under certain conditions, a former compulsory member can remain or become a voluntary member of statutory health insurance (section 9 SGB V). Your health insurer checks the prior insurance period. Get the confirmation in writing before your studies end.
Voluntary contributions depend on your income. A minimum assessment base acts as a floor. Example (assumption): minimum assessment base 2026 of 1,318.33 euros per month, reduced contribution rate of 14.0 percent plus an additional contribution of 2.9 percent.
| Contribution | Calculation 2026 | Amount per month |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | 1,318.33 € × (14.0 % + 2.9 %) | 222.80 € |
| Long-term care insurance without childless surcharge | 1,318.33 € × 3.6 % | 47.46 € |
| Long-term care insurance with childless surcharge | 1,318.33 € × 4.2 % | 55.37 € |
| Total without childless surcharge | 270.26 € |
The reduced rate of 14.0 percent applies under section 243 SGB V to members without entitlement to sick pay. Your health insurer will confirm whether this applies to you. The rates and thresholds come from the GKV-Spitzenverband fact sheet on 2026 reference values (as of January 2026).
Pension insurance: when is it compulsory?
Not every self-employed activity leads to statutory pension insurance. Under section 2 SGB VI, certain groups are compulsorily insured, for example trades registered in the craft register and teachers or educators without regularly employed staff. If you work outside these groups, the obligation is checked case by case. The general contribution rate for 2026 is 18.6 percent.
What a start-up grant means for contributions
If you receive a start-up grant from the Federal Employment Agency, part of it is paid as a grant. For contributions, not the full amount counts: under section 240 (2) SGB V, 300 euros per month remain unconsidered in the assessment. The agency decides case by case whether you receive the grant. A promise is not automatic. Plan early how your contributions develop once the support ends.
Which cover does the start need?
As a self-employed person you have no employer to fill gaps. Cover in the founding year therefore matters especially. For personal advice on disability insurance or liability, see how we work at Academycon.
| Cover | Why it matters | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Disability insurance | Income if illness ends your ability to work | Health questions (section 19 VVG), job description, proof of income |
| Business liability insurance | Damage to third parties from your business | Sum insured and scope of the job |
| Daily sickness benefit | Income replacement during illness | Waiting period and daily rate, because voluntary members often have no sick pay |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to tell my health insurer straight after graduation?
Clarify your membership with your health insurer in time, so that no gap arises. A gap in cover can be expensive, because treatment then has no insurance behind it. Our guide on health insurance after study gives an overview of the transition.
Can I switch to private health insurance as a founder?
Self-employed people have no compulsory insurance threshold like employees. Entry into private insurance depends on a health check and the tariff. Private premiums follow different rules from statutory contributions, so compare over the whole period.
What if I earn little?
The minimum contribution is a floor. The insurer calculates on income it checks, and if you earn little you still pay at least the minimum assessment. Plan liquidity for these contributions, even if sales fluctuate in the first year.
What to do now
- Clarify voluntary membership and the prior insurance period with your health insurer before your studies end.
- Check whether your activity triggers compulsory pension insurance.
- Ask the Federal Employment Agency about a start-up grant before you launch.
- Plan minimum contributions, insurance and taxes as fixed costs in your business plan.
Related guides
- Self-Employed Student: Health Insurance Rules
- Loss Carryforward in Studies: Tax Return Step by Step
- Health Insurance After Studies Without a Job: Options and Costs
Sources: Section 9 SGB V, voluntary insurance (as of October 2026) · Section 240 SGB V, contribution assessment (as of October 2026) · Section 2 SGB VI, self-employed persons (as of October 2026) · GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 reference values (as of January 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
