Comparing student health insurance in Germany mostly means reading the contribution correctly. It has two parts: a basic contribution (Grundbeitrag) that the law fixes and that is identical at every statutory health insurer, and an additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag) that each insurer sets itself. Anyone who looks only at the additional contribution misses the benefits that matter in daily life. This guide explains how to classify both parts and which steps make sense.
Short answer: Students pay a basic contribution set by law, which is the same at every statutory insurer, plus the additional contribution of their chosen insurer. Based on a contribution base of 855 euros, the basic contribution comes to 87.38 euros a month. The average additional contribution was 2.9 percent in 2026. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points
- The basic contribution is identical for students at all statutory insurers. It results from seven tenths of the general contribution rate.
- The additional contribution is set by each insurer and is added in full to the basic contribution for students.
- The 2026 average was 2.9 percent. Your insurer’s rate can differ.
- Mandatory benefits are set in the Social Code Book V (SGB V). Differences lie mainly in statutory options (Satzungsleistungen) and in service.
- Compare only figures with the same date and calculate the yearly difference in euros.
How Is the Contribution Built Up for Students?
The contribution for students is not a negotiated rate. The law provides that students who are compulsorily insured under section 5 (1) no. 9 SGB V pay seven tenths of the general contribution rate (section 245 SGB V). The contribution base corresponds to one thirtieth of the BAföG standard need and is 855 euros a month (section 236 SGB V). The table shows the building blocks for 2026.
| Component | Value | Date and source |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution rate for students (7/10 of 14.6 percent) | 10.22 percent | January 2026, section 245 SGB V |
| Contribution base | 855 euros a month | since 1 October 2024, section 236 SGB V |
| Health insurance without additional contribution | 87.38 euros a month | January 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband |
| Average additional contribution (calculated) | 24.80 euros a month | 2.9 percent, Federal Ministry of Health, September 2026 |
Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) comes on top. Without the childless surcharge it is 30.78 euros a month, and from age 23 without children 35.91 euros a month (as of January 2026, rate 3.6 percent or 4.2 percent with the surcharge, Federal Ministry of Health). These amounts are the same at every insurer. The additional contribution affects only health insurance.
What Do Different Additional Contributions Cost?
Differences between insurers show up mainly in the additional contribution. The table uses the same contribution base of 855 euros a month, so that only the rate is compared.
| Additional contribution | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 percent (assumption) | 20.52 euros | 246.24 euros |
| 2.9 percent (2026 average) | 24.80 euros | 297.60 euros |
| 3.5 percent (assumption) | 29.93 euros | 359.10 euros |
Assumption: contribution base of 855 euros a month. In this example, the gap between an insurer at 2.4 percent and one at 3.5 percent is about 9.41 euros a month and 112.86 euros a year. Last updated: October 2026, average figure from the Federal Ministry of Health.
You can run this calculation yourself: contribution base multiplied by the additional contribution in percent gives the monthly amount. For 855 euros and a difference of 1.1 percentage points, that is 855 times 1.1 percent, or 9.41 euros a month.
How Do You Read Benefits and Statutes Correctly?
A low additional contribution says little about the quality of an insurer on its own. The mandatory benefits are set in the SGB V and apply to all statutory insurers. Differences exist in statutory options (Satzungsleistungen), meaning offers an insurer provides voluntarily on top, such as prevention courses, bonus programmes or grants for certain services.
Read the statutes and the benefit overview carefully. Check which benefits you need regularly, how service and reachability work, and whether the insurer offers digital routes. If you study abroad, the guide on health insurance abroad (in German) covers the key points.
How Do You Compare Step by Step?
A structured comparison saves time and avoids mistakes. Note the figures of every insurer that is possible for you and record them in a table with date and source.
- Note the additional contribution of each insurer with its date and source.
- Calculate the monthly difference with the contribution base of 855 euros and multiply it by twelve.
- Place the statutory options you actually use next to it.
- Check the sign-up process of each insurer before you decide.
A switch does not always make sense. If you are still within the binding period or in the middle of treatment, choose your timing carefully. The rules for switching are explained in our guide on switching insurers as a student (in German).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the basic contribution really the same everywhere?
Yes. The basic contribution follows from the law: seven tenths of the general contribution rate applied to the contribution base. Differences therefore arise mainly through the additional contribution, which each insurer sets individually.
How reliable are the additional contributions for next year?
Only to a limited extent. For 2027, the estimation committee (Schätzerkreis) calculates with 2.9 percent, but the official figure set by the Federal Ministry of Health is still pending. Insurers set their rates for the following year individually, so it is worth repeating the comparison in autumn.
Must I switch if my insurer raises its additional contribution?
No. An increase is a reason to look, not an obligation. You can stay or use the special termination right. How that right works and until when you must give notice is explained in our guide on deadlines and special termination (in German).
Which figures are reliable for a comparison?
Figures with a date and a source are reliable, for example the overview of the Federal Ministry of Health or the information in your contribution notice. Be careful with comparison sites that show no date. Make sure all figures carry the same reference date.
What Should You Do Now?
- Set the contribution base of 855 euros and the basic contribution of 87.38 euros as your starting point.
- Enter the additional contribution of at least two insurers with their date and calculate the yearly difference.
- Check the statutes for benefits you use regularly.
- Decide only once you know the switching route and the deadlines.
Related Reading
- Student Health Insurance in Germany 2026: Key Figures
- Additional Contribution 2027: What Students Can Do Now
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
- Private Health Insurance for Working Students in Germany
Sources: Social Code Book V, section 245 (in force); Social Code Book V, section 236 (in force); Federal Ministry of Health, contributions of statutory health insurance (as of 3 September 2026); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on contribution calculation parameters 2026 (as of 1 January 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
