During your studies you cannot simply switch to private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) while you are compulsorily insured under the statutory scheme. The route leads through an exemption under section 8 SGB V or through the end of the student insurance obligation. This guide explains when a switch is possible, when it does not make sense and what to watch out for regarding health questions.
Short answer: While you are compulsorily insured as a student under the statutory health insurance, switching to private insurance is possible only through an exemption under section 8 SGB V. The application must be submitted within three months and takes effect only with proof of other health cover. After your studies, a switch depends on your income, your status and your insurance obligation (last updated: October 2026).
The most important points at a glance
- While the student insurance obligation applies, the route to private insurance runs only through an exemption.
- The exemption cannot be revoked, and a return to statutory insurance later depends on conditions.
- After your studies your income decides: employees can switch to private insurance only above the compulsory insurance limit, and below it they stay in statutory insurance.
- If you leave a gap in your health cover, a private contract concluded later carries a surcharge.
- Health questions must be answered truthfully, otherwise the insurer may withdraw from the contract.
Which routes lead to private insurance?
A switch is not a single decision but depends on your status. The table shows the main routes that can be derived from the law.
| Route | When it is possible | What you must observe |
|---|---|---|
| Exemption during studies | On enrolment as a student (section 8 para. 1 no. 5 SGB V) | Application within three months, proof of other cover, not revocable |
| After the end of the student obligation | After exmatriculation or on reaching age 30 (section 190 para. 9 SGB V) | Avoid a gap, otherwise a surcharge applies (section 193 para. 4 VVG) |
| Employed above the compulsory insurance limit | The obligation ends at the end of the calendar year in which the limit is exceeded (section 6 para. 4 SGB V) | Limit 2026: 6,450 euros per month, 77,400 euros per year |
| Civil servant with entitlement to health aid (Beihilfe) | Exempt from statutory insurance under section 6 para. 1 no. 2 SGB V | Health care through Beihilfe and private supplementary cover, see the guide on the traineeship |
The employee limit only matters in working life, not during your studies. Whether a working-student job affects your student obligation depends on the type and extent of the work. Check this for a concrete job before you commit.
The timing matters too. The exemption takes effect from the start of the compulsory insurance if you have not yet used any benefits. Otherwise it takes effect from the calendar month after your application (section 8 para. 2 SGB V). If you have already claimed benefits, the start of the exemption is postponed.
When does a switch make sense during your studies?
A switch can suit you if your health is good, you apply for the exemption in time and the contributions fit your long-term plans. If you have a clear view of the remaining length of your studies, you can weigh the effort better.
Contributions are the largest cost block, but not the only one. In any comparison, look at the description of benefits, the development of contributions and the terms for dental treatment and medical aids. A serious comparison needs written offers with a precise description of benefits.
Disclosure duties matter for health. Pre-existing conditions must be disclosed in a private application if the insurer asks about them (section 19 VVG). The consequences depend on how the omission occurred: the insurer can withdraw from the contract only if you breached the disclosure duty intentionally or through gross negligence (section 19 para. 2 and 3 VVG). If you are unsure, get advice before you apply. The guide on pre-existing conditions in the PKV application explains how to complete it (in German): Vorerkrankungen im PKV-Antrag als Student.
When a switch does not make sense
- You are enrolled for only a few more semesters, and the effort for the exemption and the switch is out of proportion to the remaining time.
- You have a pre-existing condition that may lead to risk surcharges or exclusions in a private application.
- You plan to start a family soon, and family insurance through a statutorily insured partner is an option for you.
- You are not sure whether you will have a stable income after your studies, and a return to statutory insurance would then be difficult.
- You have no liquidity for the transition and risk a gap in your health cover.
How expensive is a gap in cover?
A gap in health cover costs more than many people expect. If you apply for a private contract later than one month after the obligation arises, you must pay a surcharge. It equals one monthly premium for each started month without cover. From the sixth month a staggered rule applies (section 193 para. 4 VVG).
Assumption: your future monthly premium for a private contract is 100 euros, and you are without cover for two months. You then pay a surcharge of 200 euros on top of the ongoing premiums. A contract that starts without a gap at the end of your obligation avoids this cost.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch to private insurance at 25 while I am still studying?
Not simply. Family insurance for students generally ends at 25, after which the student obligation applies until you are exempt or the obligation ends. A switch without an exemption is not the usual route during your studies.
Can I return to statutory insurance after an exemption?
The return depends on conditions that are explained in the guide on returning to statutory insurance (in German): Rückkehr in die GKV: Wann der Wechsel von der PKV möglich ist. Plan this early, because the conditions are not always easy to meet.
Do I have to answer health questions for a private application?
Yes. The insurer asks about health-related circumstances, and you answer them completely and truthfully. The consequences of a breach are governed by section 19 VVG and depend on whether you acted intentionally or through gross negligence.
Does the premium rise in old age?
Private premiums depend on the age at entry, and they can rise over time. This is an important point for any long-term plan. The guide on premium development in the PKV explains the mechanics in more detail (in German): PKV-Beitragsentwicklung: Warum Beiträge steigen und was hilft.
Who decides whether I am exempted?
Your statutory insurer reviews the application and decides on the exemption. Keep the written decision, because you will need it as proof for your new insurer.
What to do now
- Clarify your status: are you compulsorily insured as a student, family insured, or already covered by other insurance?
- Ask for the conditions for proof of other health cover in writing.
- Obtain at least two written offers for private tariffs and compare their descriptions of benefits.
- File the exemption application within three months and plan the start of the contract without a gap.
- Write down your health information completely before you sign the application.
Related reading
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
- Befreiung von der studentischen Krankenversicherung: Wer darf es?
- Health Insurance After Graduation: Job Seeker Visa
- Public or Private Health Insurance for International Students
- Private Health Insurance for Working Students in Germany
Sources: Section 8 SGB V, exemption from compulsory insurance, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved October 2026), Section 6 SGB V, exemption from insurance, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved October 2026), Section 19 VVG, disclosure duty, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved October 2026) and Section 193 VVG, insured person and insurance obligation, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
