Students can be exempted from compulsory student health insurance only if they apply within three months and can prove other health cover. In Germany, enrolling as a student usually makes you compulsorily insured under the statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). An exemption under section 8 SGB V (Befreiung) is an exception with clear conditions. This guide explains who can apply, what the exemption does and which pitfalls to avoid.
Short answer: Under section 8 para. 1 no. 5 SGB V, students can apply to be exempted from compulsory insurance if they prove an entitlement to other health cover. The application must reach the insurer within three months of the start of compulsory insurance. Once granted, the exemption cannot be revoked (last updated: October 2026, statutory wording of section 8 SGB V).
The most important points at a glance
- The exemption is an application to your statutory insurer. It concerns the compulsory insurance that starts with your enrolment.
- The deadline is three months from the start of compulsory insurance. After that deadline only the compulsory insurance remains.
- Proof of other health cover is mandatory, and without it the exemption has no effect.
- Once granted, the exemption cannot be revoked, so prepare the decision carefully.
- If you are covered as a family member (Familienversicherung), no student insurance obligation arises, and no exemption is needed.
Who can apply?
According to section 8 para. 1 no. 5 SGB V, the exemption concerns students who become compulsorily insured through enrolment or a practical professional activity under section 5 para. 1 no. 9 or 10 SGB V. What matters is therefore not your wish for another insurance, but your legal entitlement to other health cover.
Such an entitlement may arise, for example, from an existing private comprehensive health insurance. Whether your specific cover meets the requirements is decided by your statutory insurer. Ask for the requirements in writing before you apply. If the proof is insufficient, it has no effect, and the deadline keeps running in the meantime, so allow enough time to resolve questions.
| Requirement | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ground | Enrolment as a student, or a practical professional activity | Section 8 para. 1 no. 5 SGB V |
| Application | To the statutory insurer within three months of the start of compulsory insurance | Section 8 para. 2 SGB V |
| Proof | Entitlement to other cover in case of illness | Section 8 para. 2 SGB V |
| Effect | From the start of compulsory insurance if no benefits were used yet, otherwise from the month after the application | Section 8 para. 2 SGB V |
| Revocation | Not possible | Section 8 para. 2 SGB V |
| Family insurance | No student compulsory insurance, so no exemption needed | Section 5 para. 7 SGB V |
What does compulsory student insurance cost, and what falls away with an exemption?
Compulsory student insurance is calculated on a fixed contribution base that is oriented toward the BAföG living allowance (section 236 SGB V). As a worked example, assume you are 23 or older, have no children, and pay on the basis of 855 euros per month. The average additional contribution of 2.9 percent (status October 2026) applies in full.
| Component | Amount per month | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance without additional contribution (10.22 percent) | 87.38 euros | 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband |
| Additional contribution (2.9 percent, average) | 24.80 euros | calculated |
| Long-term care insurance with childless surcharge (4.2 percent) | 35.91 euros | 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband |
| Total | 148.09 euros | calculated |
An exemption replaces this contribution with private health insurance. Whether that costs more or less depends on the tariff, your age and your health. The calculation is therefore not only about the monthly amount, but also about benefits and long-term development. The guide on switching paths into private health insurance covers this in more detail (in German): PKV-Wechsel als Student: Ablauf, Antrag und Unterlagen.
Be aware that the exemption only replaces the compulsory insurance, not the duty to be insured. You must have health cover at all times. If you leave a gap and apply for private cover later, a surcharge applies for each started month without cover (section 193 para. 4 VVG).
When does student compulsory insurance end?
Under section 190 para. 9 SGB V, membership as a student ends at the end of the last semester for which you were enrolled or re-registered, if you are exmatriculated or if you turn 30 by the end of the semester. If you give up your residence in Germany after exmatriculation or move abroad permanently, membership ends on that day.
After your studies, different rules apply, and the exemption no longer helps. Anyone working as an employee remains generally in statutory insurance as long as their income stays below the compulsory insurance limit. In 2026 that limit was 6,450 euros per month (77,400 euros per year). Above it, a switch to private insurance becomes possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can I be exempted if I already have private insurance?
Yes, if the existing cover meets the requirements. That is exactly the case the exemption is meant for. Send your insurer the proof of cover and ask explicitly for recognition.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
You stay in compulsory insurance. The law sets a fixed deadline for the application, so put it in your calendar as soon as you enrol. If you are unsure, ask your insurer early.
Can I reverse the exemption later?
No. An exemption cannot be revoked. Check beforehand how long you plan to study, which insurance you will use afterwards and how your situation is likely to develop.
Do I still have to be insured after an exemption?
Yes. An exemption from compulsory insurance does not mean that you are uninsured. The exemption takes effect only once you prove the other health cover. Without that proof, the application has no effect.
What applies if I work as a working student?
Employment alongside your studies affects your insurance, depending on the type and extent of the work. The decisive factors are the rules for that employment and your enrolment. Have your insurer confirm this in writing before you commit.
What to do now
- Check whether you will be compulsorily insured as a student at all, or whether another ground, such as family insurance, applies.
- Clarify in writing which proof of other health cover is accepted.
- File the application within three months of the start of compulsory insurance and keep the receipt.
- Wait for the decision of your insurer and check from which date the exemption takes effect.
- Plan early for the time after your studies, because the exemption applies only to the period of study.
Related reading
- Befreiung von der GKV-Pflicht: Warum du es dir zweimal überlegen solltest
- Krankenversicherung bei Exmatrikulation und Neueinschreibung (in German)
- Student health insurance costs by age in Germany
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
- Health Insurance After Graduation: Job Seeker Visa
Sources: Section 8 SGB V, exemption from compulsory insurance, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved October 2026), Section 5 SGB V, compulsory insurance, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved October 2026) and Section 190 SGB V, end of membership, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
