Students in a registered partnership (eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft) in Germany often ask whether they are covered through their partner or whether student health insurance (Krankenversicherung der Studierenden, KVdS) applies. The answer depends on your partner’s membership and on your own income. This guide explains the rules for registered partnerships in health insurance law.
Short answer: In health insurance law, registered partners are treated like spouses. If your registered partner is statutorily insured and your total income in 2026 is at most 565 euros per month, you can be family-insured. Then student health insurance does not apply. If your income is above that, KVdS usually continues. Last updated October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Registered partners can be family-insured under the same rules as spouses (§ 10 para. 1 SGB V).
- Your partner must be a member of a statutory health fund.
- Your total income in 2026 may not exceed 565 euros per month, or up to 603 euros for marginal employment.
- Family-insured students are not additionally subject to the KVdS obligation (§ 5 para. 7 SGB V).
- If your income or your partner’s status changes, you must report it to the fund.
Do the same rules apply to registered partnerships as to marriages?
Yes. In health insurance law, registered partners are equal to spouses. Family insurance under § 10 SGB V names both expressly. For you as a student, your partner’s membership and your own income count. The partnership status matters only in the sense that the partnership must legally exist.
Which conditions apply to family insurance?
Under § 10 para. 1 SGB V, several conditions must be met together. The most important are:
- Residence or habitual abode in Germany.
- No prior compulsory or voluntary insurance, and no exemption from insurance.
- No main self-employment.
- Regular monthly total income of at most one seventh of the monthly reference income, that is 565 euros in 2026 (3,955 euros divided by 7).
- The member, here your partner, registers you with the fund with the necessary information (§ 10 para. 6 SGB V).
When does student insurance continue?
If your partner is not statutorily insured, for example because they are privately insured, family insurance is not possible. KVdS can then continue, provided you meet the other conditions. Even if your income is above 565 euros, KVdS usually continues. Students who are family-insured are not additionally subject to the KVdS obligation (§ 5 para. 7 SGB V).
The table shows four situations with assumptions. The classification assumes that you are enrolled and not yet 30 years old.
| Partner statutorily insured | Your income (assumption) | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 400 euros from a mini-job | family insurance possible, KVdS ends |
| Yes | 590 euros from a mini-job | family insurance possible (special rule up to 603 euros), KVdS ends |
| Yes | 590 euros from another source | no family insurance (above 565 euros), KVdS usually continues |
| No, privately insured | 400 euros | no family insurance, KVdS usually continues |
Your partner’s fund checks income and membership. A change in your income can change the status, so review increases in time.
How does the income limit work in practice?
The limit refers to regular monthly total income. A mini-job up to 603 euros is usually harmless because of the special rule for marginal employment. If you also receive a scholarship or other income, check the figures with the fund before you register. The fund decides which income counts in each case, based on the statutory rules.
What changes in 2027?
According to the draft regulation, the reference income for 2027 is 4,130 euros per month. This would give an income limit of about 590 euros (4,130 divided by 7). The draft is not yet in force, so the limit of 565 euros applies today. The mini-job limit rises to 633 euros in 2027 (BMAS, draft regulation on social insurance calculation values 2027 (in German)).
What does this mean in everyday life?
While you are family-insured, you pay no separate contribution to health insurance. Your partner’s fund covers the family insurance. If the conditions lapse, for example because your income exceeds the limit, KVdS becomes relevant again and you must pay your own contribution. Its amount depends on the KVdS assessment base explained in our German guide Student health insurance 2026.
Which documents are helpful?
Helpful documents are a current enrolment certificate, your partner’s membership certificate and proof of your income over recent months. The proof shows whether you keep within the limit. Keep your registered partnership certificate as well, so that you can show that the partnership exists. For what happens on deregistration, see our guide Health Insurance for PhD Students in Germany and the German guide on deregistration due to illness (Krankenversicherung bei Exmatrikulation wegen Krankheit).
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to live together for me to be family-insured?
No. Living together is not a condition for family insurance. What matters is residence or habitual abode in Germany and the other conditions of § 10 SGB V.
What happens if my partner changes health fund?
Family insurance depends on your partner’s membership. If they change within statutory health insurance, family insurance continues with the new fund. If the membership changes fundamentally, for example by switching to private insurance, family insurance ends and the KVdS check starts again.
Do the age limits apply to registered partners?
The age limits in § 10 para. 2 SGB V apply to children. For registered partners, the income and membership rules apply.
Is registration with my partner’s fund compulsory?
If you meet the conditions, your partner registers you with their fund under § 10 para. 6 SGB V. Ask for a confirmation so that you can prove your insurance status. The fund decides on the registration in each case.
What to do now
- Check whether your registered partner is statutorily insured, meaning a member of a health fund.
- Calculate your monthly total income and compare it with the 565 euro limit (2026).
- Have your partner register you as family-insured with their fund and keep the confirmation.
- Report changes in income or insurance promptly, so that your status stays correct.
- If in doubt, ask the fund in writing, so that the classification stays traceable.
Related reading
- Health Insurance for International Students in Germany
- Health Insurance for Students Over 30 in Germany
- Health insurance while studying alongside a job
Sources: § 10 SGB V and § 5 SGB V (both gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed October 2026); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 calculation values (in German); BMAS, draft regulation 2027 (in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
