German health insurance uses its own vocabulary, and the forms of your university, your fund and your immigration office use the German terms. This guide lists the terms that newcomers meet in their first semester, with a short meaning for each. The complete glossary with all related terms is linked at the end.
Key facts
| Key fact | Stand |
|---|---|
| Most students are in the student insurance (studentische Krankenversicherung, KVdS) until the semester of their 30th birthday (Stand 20.10.2026). | 20.10.2026 |
| Family insurance (Familienversicherung) is free for students under 25 within the income limit of €565 a month, or €603 for a minijob. | 20.10.2026 |
The terms you will meet first
| German term | Meaning for you |
|---|---|
| Pflichtversicherung (compulsory insurance) | Cover that the law requires for certain groups, such as students, employees and some others. Without an exemption, it is the default. |
| Krankenversicherung (health insurance) | The general term for health cover. It is either statutory (gesetzlich, GKV) or private (privat, PKV). |
| Studentische Krankenversicherung (KVdS) | The compulsory statutory insurance for enrolled students, with a contribution based on a calculated basis of €855 a month in 2026. |
| Familienversicherung (family insurance) | Free co-insurance of children through a parent who is statutorily insured. It applies up to 25 for students, within the income limit. |
| Zusatzbeitrag (supplementary contribution) | A rate that each fund sets for itself on top of the statutory rate. The average for 2026 is 2.9%, but your fund’s rate can be different. |
| Befreiung (exemption) | Release from the statutory compulsory insurance, usually to take out private cover. It must be applied for within three months. |
| Pflegeversicherung (long-term care insurance) | Insurance for care needs, paid together with health insurance. For childless people from 23, a surcharge applies. |
| Kinderlosenzuschlag (childless surcharge) | A surcharge on care insurance for people without children from age 23. It is part of the contribution, not a separate fee. |
| Anschlussversicherung (follow-on insurance) | Continuation of statutory cover after the compulsory insurance ends, for example after your last exam. It has to be applied for within a deadline. |
| Freiwillige Versicherung (voluntary insurance) | Statutory membership that you choose yourself, for example after 30 or without income. The contribution is based on a minimum income basis. |
| Versicherungspflichtgrenze (insurance threshold) | The income above which employees may choose private cover. It was €6,450 a month in 2026. |
| Beitragsbemessungsgrenze (contribution ceiling) | The income up to which contributions are calculated. Income above that level does not raise the contribution. |
| Krankenkasse (health fund) | The statutory fund that administers your membership. You choose it yourself in most cases. |
| Versichertenkarte (insurance card) | The card that proves your statutory membership at the doctor. It is not the EHIC, which is used for care in other EU states. |
| Exmatrikulation (deregistration) | The end of your student status. It ends the student insurance and starts the follow-on insurance decision. |
Which terms are often confused?
The three terms that cause the most confusion are Familienversicherung, studentische Krankenversicherung and freiwillige Versicherung. Family insurance is free and depends on income and age. The student insurance is a separate membership with a contribution, and it runs to the semester of your 30th birthday. Voluntary insurance is a membership you choose after the student insurance has ended, and it is calculated on a minimum income basis. A deeper explanation with the 2026 figures is in Student health insurance in Germany: Costs 2026 by age.
Where can you find the full list?
The complete glossary covers the terms of statutory and private insurance, the European cards and the funding rules in more depth. It is available as Health insurance for students: Glossary from A to Z. Terms that are not about insurance, such as the study vocabulary of a university, are not part of that list.
Check your own situation with the online check: Online check for your situation.
Sources and review
- § 5, § 8, § 10, § 175, § 188 and § 240 SGB V, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20.10.2026.
- Faktenblatt Rechengrößen Beitragsrecht 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband, Stand 1.1.2026.
Related guides
- Health insurance for students in Germany
- Health Insurance for International Students in Germany
- Student Health Insurance Costs by Age in Germany
- Student Health Insurance in Germany 2026: Key Figures
Information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative. Last reviewed: 21 October 2026.
