Health insurance during a second degree with income raises a question many people underestimate. A second course of study does not automatically decide your insurance route, and your own income affects it differently than it first seems. This guide explains what the law sets out, where your health insurer makes the decision and which figures you should know.
Short answer: Your income usually does not change the contribution to student health insurance (Studierendenversicherung), because the contribution is based on the BAföG rate. Family insurance (Familienversicherung) ends above a total income of 565 euros per month (2026). Whether a second degree triggers compulsory student insurance is checked by your insurer case by case. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points at a Glance
- Compulsory student insurance is tied to studying at a state or recognised university, not to the number of courses you have completed.
- There is no limit on the number of semesters for student insurance.
- The compulsory insurance ends with the semester in which you turn 30.
- The contribution is based on a contribution base of 855 euros per month, not on your actual income.
- Family insurance applies only up to a total income of 565 euros per month (2026).
Does a Second Degree Count as Study for Insurance Purposes?
The law refers to students at state or recognised universities (section 5 (1) no. 9 SGB V). It has no separate term for a second degree. The answer therefore depends on how your health insurer classifies your course, and that classification follows the guidance of the associations of statutory health insurers.
In practice, the enrolment question is one you cannot settle alone. Set out your situation in writing, with course, university, semester, age and income. That gives you a clear record for later.
What Role Does Age Play?
Compulsory student insurance has an age limit. It ends with the semester in which you complete your 30th year of life (section 5 (1) no. 9 SGB V). Someone who starts a second degree at 29 therefore has less time in the system than someone who starts at 24. The age limit applies whether the course is a first or a second degree.
Family insurance also has an age limit. Children can remain insured up to 25 if they are in school or vocational training, and studying counts as training (section 10 (2) SGB V). More on these limits is in our guide on family insurance (in German).
What Does Income Mean?
Income matters in two places. First, for family insurance: total income must not exceed a limit that is 565 euros per month in 2026. This limit applies to all family members under section 10 (1) SGB V, so to spouses and children. For a marginal part-time job, a special rule applies with a limit of 603 euros per month (2026).
Second, for the contribution to student insurance. Here the contribution is not calculated from your actual income, but from a contribution base of 855 euros per month. That base derives from the BAföG rates (section 236 SGB V). Additional income therefore usually does not raise the student contribution. It can have other consequences, for example for whether you remain insured as a student.
Which Insurance Fits Which Situation?
The table shows the basic lines. The review by your health insurer always decides in the end.
| Situation | Basic rule | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Second degree at a university, under 30 | Compulsory student insurance possible, subject to insurer review | Keep proof of enrolment and study progress ready |
| Student insurance from the semester in which you turn 30 | Obligation ends, other routes become relevant | Clarify early with your insurer which route applies |
| Child in training, total income up to 565 euros | Family insurance possible | The age limit of 25 applies in addition |
| Total income above 565 euros per month | No family insurance | Minor-job special rule up to 603 euros per month (2026) |
Worked Example: What Does Student Insurance Cost?
The calculation shows the scale for health and long-term care insurance. The figures come from the 2026 contribution components for students. It is an assumption, because your insurer sets its own additional contribution.
- Assumption: the contribution base is 855 euros per month.
- Assumption: the average additional contribution is 2.9 percent, and no childless surcharge applies.
- Health insurance in total: 112.18 euros per month.
- Long-term care insurance without childless surcharge: 855 euros times 3.6 percent gives 30.78 euros per month.
- Total: 142.96 euros per month.
The total shows why the question of a second degree matters financially. The decisive point, however, is whether the obligation exists at all. If your insurer does not place you in student insurance, the picture looks very different, and the alternatives are usually more expensive.
When Should You Ask Your Insurer?
Ask early, ideally before you enrol. An answer given afterwards can leave you with a gap in cover. Comparing student insurance with other routes helps with this question. An overview of how private and statutory insurance fit together during studies is in this guide (in German).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my student insurance because of a second degree?
This cannot be answered in general terms. Your insurer checks whether the second degree meets the requirements. Keep your documents ready and get the assessment in writing.
Does my income affect the contribution?
Usually not, because the contribution follows the contribution base of 855 euros. Your income can affect family insurance, however, if you are insured as a child. Check both questions separately.
What happens if I turn 30 during a second degree?
Then compulsory student insurance ends with the semester in which you turn 30. After that you must choose another insurance route. Which routes exist is explained in this guide on the compulsory insurance threshold (in German).
Is part-time study the same as a second degree?
No, they are different situations with their own rules. Read our guide on private insurance during part-time study (in German) and ask your insurer about your specific status.
Can I be exempted from compulsory insurance?
Under certain conditions an exemption is possible, but it is bound to deadlines. Under section 8 SGB V, the application generally has to be filed within three months after the obligation begins. If you miss the deadline, the obligation remains.
What You Should Do Now
- Get written confirmation of your study status from the university and note your age at the start of the semester.
- Calculate your total income for the current year and compare it with the limit of 565 euros.
- Set out your situation in writing to your insurer and ask for a binding answer.
- Note the deadlines for a possible exemption and keep all confirmations.
Related Articles
- Health Insurance Income Limit 2026: What It Means
- Part-Time Study: Requirements, Costs and Health Insurance
- Student Health Insurance in Germany 2026: Key Figures
- Health Insurance for Students Over 30 in Germany
Sources: Section 5 SGB V, compulsory insurance (retrieved 26 October 2026, in German); Section 10 SGB V, family insurance (retrieved 26 October 2026, in German); Section 236 SGB V, contribution base for students (evaluated 20 October 2026, in German); GKV-Spitzenverband: fact sheet on 2026 calculation parameters (status 1 January 2026, in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
