There is no single cheapest statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) for students in Germany. Contributions are calculated the same way for all funds, and only one component differs. This guide explains what the contribution consists of, which figures you can use and how to compare funds properly.
Short answer: Funds differ only through their individual additional contribution (kassenindividueller Zusatzbeitrag). The statutory share for students is the same for everyone. The average additional contribution in 2026 is 2.9 percent. What matters for you is how your preferred fund compares with this average.
The most important points
- The contribution for students consists of the statutory share and the additional contribution of the fund.
- The average additional contribution in 2026 is 2.9 percent according to the Federal Ministry of Health (status September 2026).
- With a contribution base of EUR 855, a difference of 0.5 percentage points amounts to about EUR 4.28 per month.
- For 2027 there is an estimate of 2.9 percent. The official setting is still pending.
- Before you switch, check the current additional contribution, the statutes and the special termination right.
What does the contribution for students consist of?
Students in the student health insurance scheme (KVdS) pay a contribution based on a contribution base. The rate for students is 7/10 of the general rate of 14.6 percent, that is 10.22 percent (source: section 245 SGB V). The additional contribution is added in full. The contribution base for 2026 is EUR 855 per month.
| Component (2026) | Amount per month | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance without additional contribution | EUR 87.38 | the same for all funds |
| Additional contribution at the average (2.9 percent) | EUR 24.80 | an average, not your fund |
| Health insurance total (average) | EUR 112.18 | calculated |
| Care insurance without childless supplement | EUR 30.78 | the same for all |
| Care insurance with childless supplement | EUR 35.91 | from age 23 without children |
The figures come from the calculation parameters of the German Federation of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband), status 1 January 2026, and use the contribution base of EUR 855. The average additional contribution is published by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Calculation example: what does a difference in the additional contribution mean?
Assumption: two funds differ by 0.5 percentage points in their additional contribution. The contribution base is EUR 855. The difference is then EUR 4.28 per month (855 times 0.5 percent), or EUR 51.30 per year. These numbers are an example and do not refer to any particular fund.
The calculation shows what matters. A difference of half a percentage point is noticeable but not dramatic. What counts is therefore whether the fund with the lower additional contribution also offers the benefits and service you need.
Why the additional contribution for 2027 matters
Each fund sets its additional contribution every year. The estimation panel (Schätzerkreis) estimated an average of 2.9 percent for 2027. The official setting by the Federal Ministry of Health is still pending and was announced for early November. The Bundestag passed a law to stabilise contribution rates in July 2026.
For your planning this means: calculate with the average, but check your fund once the official setting is published. An increase in the additional contribution can trigger a special termination right, described below.
How do you check the additional contribution of your fund?
If a fund raises its additional contribution, it informs you. That is the moment to reassess your situation. Whether a switch pays off then depends on the benefits you still need.
You can find the additional contribution of each fund on the funds’ own websites and in the publications of the Federal Ministry of Health. Check the year and the date from which the rate applies. A comparison is only meaningful if both values apply to the same period.
- Find the current additional contribution of the funds that come into question for the current year.
- Compare these rates with the average of 2.9 percent and with your contribution base.
- Read the statutes and the benefits that go beyond the statutory minimum.
- Check the notice period and whether a special termination right applies before you switch.
Why the cheapest rate is not always the best choice
Statutory benefits are the same for all funds, because they are set out in the Social Code Book V. Differences exist in the additional contribution, in voluntary extra benefits, in bonus programmes and in service. A fund with a low rate may therefore offer fewer extras that matter to you, and the reverse is also true.
Prevention is one example of a benefit that is used differently from fund to fund. Courses on exercise, nutrition or stress management are supported under section 20 SGB V. The statute sets the framework, and the fund defines the details. Ask specifically which courses are recognised and what share is covered.
Accessibility, the quality of advice and the number of branches can also matter. Compare the overall benefit, not only the figure in the additional contribution. Our guide health insurance for students: glossary explains the terms used.
Special termination right and switching
Under section 175 SGB V, a binding period of 12 months applies when you want to change funds. Termination takes effect at the end of the second calendar month after notice. If the additional contribution is charged or raised for the first time, you can terminate until the end of the month from which it applies. The binding period then does not apply (source: section 175 SGB V).
You register the switch with the new fund. Its notification replaces the termination with the old fund. Make sure you receive confirmation before you treat the switch as complete.
Frequently asked questions
Is the fund with the lowest additional contribution automatically the cheapest?
In terms of contribution, yes. For total costs, not always. If benefits are missing, you may have to pay for them yourself. Calculate with the benefits you actually need, not only with the additional contribution.
Can I switch during the year?
In principle a binding period of 12 months applies. An exception applies when the additional contribution is raised, because then a special termination right exists. Check the timing and the notice period before you terminate.
Does my contribution change if I receive more BAföG?
The contribution base for students in the KVdS is based on the BAföG need. If that need rises, the statutory share rises as well. The additional contribution is independent of this and depends on the rate of your fund.
How long does the average rate of 2.9 percent apply?
The rate is the official average for 2026. For 2027 an estimate exists, and the official setting follows. Check your fund after the setting, because the rate can change.
What to do now
- Check your current contribution in your fund’s notice and the contribution base.
- Compare the additional contribution of two or three funds for the current year.
- Read the benefits and statutes of the funds that come into question.
- Switch only if the overall benefit fits, and observe the notice period.
Related guides
- Student Health Insurance Costs by Age in Germany
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
- Statutory Health Insurance (GKV) Explained
- Return to Statutory Insurance: When Switching Back Works
- Zusatzbeitrag 2027: Was Studierende zum Jahreswechsel tun können (in German)
Sources: Federal Ministry of Health, contributions to statutory health insurance (status 3 September 2026); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on calculation parameters 2026 (status 1 January 2026); Section 245 SGB V, gesetze-im-internet.de; Section 175 SGB V, gesetze-im-internet.de.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
