After graduation, health insurance has to be arranged again. Whether you stay in statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV), continue voluntarily, or switch to private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) depends mainly on whether you are employed, self-employed or unemployed, and on your regular income. This guide sorts the options and shows the 2026 figures.
Short answer: Employees stay in the GKV as long as their regular annual income stays below the compulsory insurance threshold (Versicherungspflichtgrenze). For 2026 it is 77,400 euros a year. Above it you may switch to the PKV. Without employment you are voluntarily insured in the GKV, with a minimum of 270.26 euros a month for health and long-term care insurance. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points
- Student health insurance depends on your status as a student and ends with it.
- As an employee with an annual income below 77,400 euros (2026), you are compulsorily insured in the GKV.
- If your regular annual income is above that threshold, you are exempt from compulsory insurance and can choose between GKV and PKV.
- Without employment, voluntary GKV membership remains. The contribution is based on a minimum contribution base of 1,318.33 euros a month.
- Family insurance (Familienversicherung) ends with the age limit or the end of training, and your own income also matters.
When Are You Still Compulsorily Insured in the GKV After Graduation?
Anyone working as a worker or employee is in principle compulsorily insured in the GKV (section 5 (1) no. 1 SGB V). The obligation ends only when the regular annual income exceeds the threshold. That threshold, the general annual earnings limit (allgemeine Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze), is 77,400 euros a year or 6,450 euros a month in 2026 (section 6 (1) no. 1 SGB V).
What counts is the regular annual income, not a single monthly salary. A pay rise during the year can cross the threshold, while a one-off bonus alone usually does not. Before you switch, check carefully which amount you can expect in the coming year.
| Situation after graduation | Health insurance | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Employee, annual income below 77,400 euros (2026) | compulsory GKV | contribution based on income, the employer pays a share |
| Employee, annual income above 77,400 euros (2026) | choice between voluntary GKV and PKV | an employer subsidy may apply with PKV (section 257 SGB V) |
| Not employed, no family insurance | voluntary GKV | contribution at least on 1,318.33 euros a month (2026) |
| Self-employed | voluntary GKV or PKV, depending on the situation | GKV contribution depends on profit |
The table is an orientation, not a complete check. Self-employment, civil-servant status or several jobs follow their own rules.
What Does Voluntary Insurance Cost?
Voluntary members pay contributions based on their income, but at least on a minimum contribution base. For 2026 it is 1,318.33 euros a month, which is one third of the reference income (Bezugsgröße) of 3,955 euros a month. Voluntary members without entitlement to sick pay pay the reduced rate of 14.0 percent (section 243 SGB V), plus the average additional contribution of 2.9 percent.
Assumption: minimum base of 1,318.33 euros, additional contribution 2.9 percent. Health insurance: 1,318.33 times 16.9 percent (14.0 plus 2.9) equals 222.80 euros. Long-term care insurance without childless surcharge: 1,318.33 times 3.6 percent equals 47.46 euros. Total: 270.26 euros a month. Last updated: October 2026, rates as of January 2026.
For 2027, a draft raises the reference income and therefore the minimum base. These figures are not yet adopted, so do not treat them as certain.
How Long Does Family Insurance Last?
Children are covered by family insurance as long as they meet the age limits. For children in school or vocational training, which includes university study, the limit is 25 years (section 10 (2) SGB V). Your own income may not exceed 565 euros a month in 2026 (as of 1 January 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband).
Family insurance ends with the end of training, or with the first job that pushes your income above the limit. Then you must insure yourself. The details are in our guide on family insurance ending with your first job.
What Are the Pros and Cons of PKV After Graduation?
PKV can fit if you earn permanently above the compulsory insurance threshold and find a tariff that meets your needs. Contributions do not depend on income but on age, health status and the tariff at signing. Health questions are asked when you apply, and a return to the GKV is possible only under limited conditions.
- Advantages: benefits depend on the tariff, often including single rooms and chief-physician treatment, plus possible premium refunds, depending on the tariff.
- Disadvantages: premiums often rise with age, a health check applies when you apply, and the way back to the GKV is limited.
- Fits if: you earn permanently above the threshold and check the benefits of the tariff carefully.
- Fits less if: your income fluctuates or you cannot plan reliably above the threshold.
A detailed weighing of these points is in PKV at the start of your career: advantages and decision for graduates (in German).
How Do You Avoid a Gap in Cover?
A gap appears quickly if student insurance ends before the new cover begins. This is especially likely when a first contract starts later than your studies end. Plan the switch early and agree the start date with your new insurer and your health insurance fund.
Unemployment after graduation follows its own rules. Information is in health insurance after graduation without a job (in German).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to sort out a new health insurance right after graduation?
Yes. When student insurance ends, you need new cover. Register with your insurer or the new insurer in time, so that no gap arises.
Does the threshold also apply to part-time work?
What counts is the regular annual income, not the number of hours alone. With part-time work the income can stay below the threshold, and then you remain in the GKV. What matters is what you earn regularly over the year.
Can I switch to PKV as an employee below the threshold?
Usually not. If you are compulsorily insured in the GKV, you cannot freely switch to PKV. Exceptions apply, for example, to civil servants or self-employed people who are not compulsorily insured. Check your case before you decide.
What happens if I do not work at all after graduation?
Then you are usually a voluntary GKV member, or you take out a PKV policy if that is possible for you. Voluntary GKV costs at least the contribution based on the minimum base of 1,318.33 euros a month (2026).
What Should You Do Now?
- Work out your regular annual income and compare it with the threshold of 77,400 euros (2026).
- Check whether you are employed, self-employed or without work, and which form of insurance fits.
- Agree the start date of the new insurance so that student insurance ends seamlessly.
- Compare the costs of GKV and PKV over several years, not only for the first year.
Related Reading
- Private Health Insurance for Working Students in Germany
- Health Insurance After Graduation: Job Seeker Visa
- Health insurance after studies: GKV, PKV, family, transition
Sources: GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on contribution calculation parameters 2026 (as of 1 January 2026, in German); Social Code Book V, section 6 (in force, in German text); Social Code Book V, section 10 (in force, in German text).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
