Gap year health insurance works like this: you stay covered as a family member under your parents’ statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) as long as you are under 23 and not in paid work. Up to age 25 this also applies if you complete a recognised volunteer year or are still in education or studying. In 2026, your total income may be no more than €565 a month, or €603 with a mini-job. Statutory insurance does not cover the return journey from abroad, so travel needs extra cover.
The most important points at a glance
- Family insurance during a gap year lasts up to 23 if you are not working. Up to 25 it continues during school or vocational training, studies or a recognised volunteer year.
- The income limit in 2026 is €565 a month, or €603 with a mini-job.
- If family insurance ends, you must insure yourself voluntarily, either statutory or private.
- In the EU, the EEA and Switzerland the European Health Insurance Card applies. Statutory insurers do not pay for return transport, so a private travel health policy is common.
Gap year health insurance: am I still family insured?
Yes, if the conditions are met. Children are covered under their statutorily insured parents until their 18th birthday without further conditions, up to age 23 if they are not in paid work, and up to age 25 during school or vocational training, studies or a voluntary social or ecological year. This is set out in § 10 SGB V. You also need to live in Germany and stay within the income limit.
| Your gap year | Family insurance |
|---|---|
| At home or travelling, no paid work, under 23 | Possible, contribution-free |
| Between 23 and 25 without training, studies or service | No longer possible |
| Recognised volunteer service (FSJ, FÖJ, Federal Volunteer Service), up to 25 | Possible |
| Enrolled at university, up to 25 | Possible |
| Income above €565 a month (mini-job above €603), the insurer must be informed | Ends |
Income that does not count includes BAföG, child benefit, parental allowance, housing benefit and tax-free scholarships. If a statutory service interrupts your training, family insurance can continue beyond age 25: for voluntary military service, the Federal Volunteer Service and comparable volunteer services, each for up to twelve months. Whether a gap year is worth it for you is covered in Gap year after the Abitur: opportunities, risks and whether to go for it (in German). Which health insurance applies during your studies (in German) is explained in the overview article.
Two examples
- Lena, 19, after the Abitur: She travels for six months, does not work and keeps her residence in Germany. She is under 23 and not in paid work, so family insurance continues.
- Tim, 24, without training: He has no training or service and is already over 23. Family insurance ends, so he needs his own cover. If he starts a Federal Volunteer Service, family insurance is possible again up to 25, provided the other conditions are met. He has to apply for it himself.
How am I insured if family insurance ends?
If you no longer have family insurance and are not compulsorily insured, you must take out voluntary statutory or private insurance. In voluntary statutory insurance, the minimum assessment base in 2026 is €1,318.33 a month. As a rough guide, at an assumed contribution rate of 14.0% and an additional contribution of 2.18%, health and long-term care insurance without a child comes to €268.68, or €276.59 at 14.6%. Your actual contribution depends on your insurer.
Insurers do not actively request a new application for family insurance after employment ends, so apply for it yourself. If you want private cover, you must answer health questions truthfully, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
What happens if I stay enrolled during my gap year?
If you remain enrolled at a state or state-recognised university, compulsory student insurance continues to apply, unless family insurance takes precedence. Compulsory insurance generally also applies to students on leave of absence. In 2026, student compulsory insurance costs at least €118.16 (under 23 or with a child) or €123.29 (childless from age 23), plus the additional contribution.
What applies to health insurance during volunteer service?
For a recognised volunteer service (Voluntary Social Year, Voluntary Ecological Year, Federal Volunteer Service), family insurance remains possible up to age 25 if the income limit is observed. Whether pocket money or benefits in kind count towards the limit is decided by your insurer in each case. Certain study-abroad programmes may also count as training, so check with your insurer in advance.
What about work and travel?
With work and travel, age, employment and earnings are what matter. You are family insured up to 23 if you are not in paid work, and the income limit of €565 a month also applies. If you work while abroad, clarify in advance with your insurer whether family insurance continues and how earnings abroad are counted. Your insurer provides only limited cover abroad, so private travel health insurance remains necessary.
Do I need travel health insurance during my gap year?
Yes, consumer advice centres and health insurers recommend it. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland and covers medically necessary care under the rules of the country you are in, with local co-payments due. Statutory insurers do not cover medically necessary return transport to Germany. In countries without a social security agreement, such as the USA, benefits are only available in narrow exceptions.
Your policy should match the length and scope of your trip and include return transport. Standard travel insurance often covers only a limited number of days per trip, so for stays of several months you need a long-term policy. Planning tips are available from the Verbraucherzentrale (German consumer advice centre).
Frequently asked questions
How long does family insurance last during a gap year?
Up to age 23 if you are not in paid work. Up to age 25 if you are in training or studies or doing a recognised volunteer service. The condition is also that your income in 2026 is no more than €565 a month, or €603 with a mini-job.
Does my health insurer pay abroad?
In the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, with the European Health Insurance Card, it pays for medically necessary care under the rules of that country, including local co-payments. It does not pay for return transport. For other countries, ask your insurer in advance and take out private travel health insurance.
What does health insurance cost if I am no longer family insured?
In voluntary statutory insurance, the minimum assessment base in 2026 is €1,318.33 a month. At an assumed contribution rate of 14.0% and an additional contribution of 2.18%, health and long-term care insurance without a child costs €268.68. Private premiums depend on age, health, tariff and excess.
Do I have to tell my health insurer about my gap year?
Yes, if your status changes. The insurer must be informed when family insurance ends, for example because your income exceeds the limit or because you take out your own insurance. For longer stays abroad, ask in advance whether your cover continues.
What you should do now
- Check your age and status: are you under 23 and not in paid work, or in training, studies or a volunteer service?
- Compare your planned income with the limit of €565, or €603 with a mini-job.
- Ask your health insurer what cover applies in your destination country and whether family insurance continues while you are away.
- Take out travel health insurance that covers the full length of your trip and return transport.
- If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the way to advice on the homepage of Academycon (in German).
You can read reviews of us on ProvenExpert, Trustlocal and Trustindex. Academycon was also mentioned in a press release by Leinetal24. An overview of all mentions is on our press page (in German).
Related articles
- Gap year after the Abitur: opportunities, risks and planning (in German)
- Health insurance when changing courses: what protects you (in German)
- PKV for dual students: what you need to know (in German)
- PKV for international students in Germany: what applies to you (in German)
- Travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and work and travel (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
