Student health insurance ends when you leave university. From your first working day, different rules apply, and you share the contributions with your employer. This guide explains the move from study to work, works through the 2026 contributions and shows what to watch for if there is a gap in cover.
Short answer: Student health insurance (studentische Krankenversicherung) ends when the last semester you were enrolled for ends, if you are deregistered from university (§ 190 para. 9 SGB V). With paid employment you are usually compulsorily insured (§ 5 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V). The contribution is split equally between you and your employer (§ 249 SGB V). Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- Student insurance ends when the last enrolled semester ends, if you are deregistered from university.
- With paid employment you are compulsorily insured as long as your income stays below the annual earnings threshold of 77,400 euros (2026).
- You and your employer each pay half of the health insurance contribution.
- A gap can arise between deregistration and starting work. Clarify it early with your health insurer.
- In employment, the childless surcharge in long-term care insurance from age 23 still applies if you have no children.
When does student health insurance end?
Membership as a student ends at the end of the semester you were last enrolled or re-registered for, if you are deregistered from university (§ 190 para. 9 SGB V). What counts is the date of deregistration, not the start of work. The end of your studies and the start of a job often fall on different days.
A special rule applies if you enrol again at another university within one month (§ 190 para. 9 sentences 4 and 5 SGB V). If you move seamlessly to another university, check the exact sequence with your health insurer.
What applies from your first working day?
Anyone in paid employment is compulsorily insured under § 5 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V. If your regular annual earnings are above the annual earnings threshold, you are exempt from compulsory insurance (§ 6 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V). For 2026 the threshold is 77,400 euros a year, which is 6,450 euros a month (GKV-Spitzenverband, as of 1 January 2026).
The 2026 contribution rates consist of several parts. The table gives an overview.
| Component | Rate 2026 | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| General contribution rate for health insurance | 14.6 percent | § 241 SGB V, as of 1 January 2026 |
| Average additional contribution | 2.9 percent (set by each insurer) | Federal Ministry of Health, 2026 |
| Long-term care insurance rate | 3.6 percent | Federal Ministry of Health, since 1 January 2025 |
| Childless surcharge from age 23 | 0.6 contribution-rate points | Federal Ministry of Health, since 1 July 2023 |
Your actual additional contribution depends on your health insurer. The average is used here only for the worked example.
Who pays what? A worked example
Employers and employees each pay half of the health insurance contributions (§ 249 SGB V). This applies to the contributions calculated on earnings, so the additional contribution is also shared.
Worked example. Assumption: gross salary of 3,000 euros a month, below the contribution assessment ceiling, additional contribution of 2.9 percent. The total health insurance contribution is then 14.6 plus 2.9, which is 17.5 percent, or 525 euros a month. Your share is half, so 262.50 euros. Your employer pays the same amount. The calculation excludes long-term care insurance and taxes.
On your payslip you will find your share. Your insurer’s additional contribution rate appears in its notices or on its website.
What happens in the gap between study and work?
Between deregistration and the start of work there can be a period without employment. Section 5 para. 1 no. 13 SGB V covers people without other health cover who were last statutorily insured. Whether this rule applies to you depends on details, for example on whether you have other cover.
An unclear gap can cost you time and money if you fall ill. Clarify early with your health insurer how the transition works for you. A written statement helps you document the position.
What about long-term care insurance?
In employment the general rate of 3.6 percent applies. The childless surcharge of 0.6 contribution-rate points applies to members without children from the month after they turn 23 (Federal Ministry of Health, as of 14 September 2026, in German). A guide with amounts and exemptions is available here: Long-term care insurance for students: childless surcharge.
When is private health insurance an option?
If your regular annual earnings exceed 77,400 euros (2026), you are exempt from compulsory insurance under § 6 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V. Then the question is whether to take voluntary statutory or private cover. Both routes have advantages and disadvantages that depend on your age, family, income and health.
In statutory insurance, the contribution follows your income. In private insurance, it depends on the chosen tariff, the age at entry and the health check. Before deciding, a comparison that calculates both options with your figures makes sense. A personal assessment is offered by Academycon: https://academycon.de/so-arbeiten-wir/ (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Am I automatically uninsured after deregistration?
Not automatically. Employment creates compulsory insurance under § 5 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V. Without a job, § 5 para. 1 no. 13 SGB V may apply. Clarify your status with your health insurer before your membership ends.
Does my employer pay half of the contributions?
Yes. Employers and employees each pay half of the contributions calculated on earnings (§ 249 SGB V). Your share appears on your payslip.
Do I have to change health insurer after starting work?
Not automatically. Whether you stay with your current insurer depends on your insurance obligation. Ask your insurer whether you remain a member and how registration with your employer works.
What changes if my salary is above the threshold?
Then you are exempt from compulsory insurance under § 6 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V. If you want to remain statutorily insured, you can take voluntary cover. Private insurance then becomes an option too. Compare contributions and benefits before you decide.
What to do now
- Note the date of your deregistration and the last semester you were enrolled for.
- Check your employment contract: start date, pay, and whether your regular income is above the annual earnings threshold.
- Ask your health insurer how the transition works for you, especially if there is a gap between study and work.
- Check the long-term care contribution, including a possible childless surcharge, and, if your income is above the threshold, the choice between statutory and private cover.
Related guides
- Krankenversicherung im Studium in Teilzeit mit Kind
- Krankenversicherungsbescheinigung für die Hochschule
- Health Insurance After the Trainee Period: What Comes Next
- Health Insurance After Graduation: Job Seeker Visa
Sources: Social Code Book V, § 5 (accessed October 2026, in German); Social Code Book V, § 6 (accessed October 2026, in German); Social Code Book V, § 190 (accessed October 2026, in German); Social Code Book V, § 249 (accessed October 2026, in German); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on calculation variables 2026 (as of 1 January 2026, in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
