Switching to private health insurance (PKV) after your studies affects many new graduates as soon as student cover ends. Whether a switch is possible at all depends less on your choice than on your salary, and the deadlines decide whether a gap in cover arises.
Short answer: After your studies you stay compulsorily insured by statute as long as you earn below the annual earnings threshold as an employee. For 2026 this threshold is 77,400 euros per year (§ 6 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V, last updated October 2026). A switch to PKV is possible only once compulsory cover ends. If you are no longer compulsorily insured, you must notify joining voluntary statutory insurance within three months.
The most important points
- Student cover ends at the end of the semester in which you are de-registered. A new job can continue compulsory cover immediately.
- If you earn above the annual earnings threshold as an employee, you become exempt from compulsory insurance. Compulsory cover then ends at the end of the calendar year.
- As a rule the threshold must also be exceeded in the following year for compulsory cover to end.
- Without compulsory cover you must join voluntary statutory insurance within three months, or take out private cover.
- PKV does not suit everyone. Health, income and family plans play a major role.
When does student cover end?
Compulsory membership as a student ends at the end of the semester for which you were last enrolled or re-registered, if you are de-registered (§ 190 para. 9 SGB V). Your health insurer confirms how your case is classified. Plan the handover so that there is no period without health insurance. A gap is risky, because health insurance is compulsory in Germany (§ 193 para. 3 VVG).
When is a switch to PKV possible?
A switch to PKV usually requires that you are no longer compulsorily insured by statute. For employees this depends on the regular annual earnings. If earnings exceed the threshold, you become exempt from insurance (§ 6 para. 1 no. 1 SGB V). Compulsory cover then ends at the end of the calendar year (§ 6 para. 4 SGB V).
| Situation after your studies | Effect on health insurance | Deadline or note |
|---|---|---|
| Start with earnings below the threshold | You remain compulsorily insured by statute as an employee | No switch to PKV possible |
| Earnings above the threshold (2026: 77,400 euros per year) | Exemption, choice between PKV and voluntary GKV | Compulsory cover ends at year end, see the example |
| No employment and no compulsory cover any more | Voluntary GKV or PKV | Joining GKV within three months (§ 9 para. 2 SGB V) |
Assumption: From July 2026 you earn 6,800 euros gross per month. This makes 81,600 euros per year, which is above the 2026 threshold of 77,400 euros. However, compulsory cover ends at the end of 2026 only if the threshold for 2027 is also exceeded. In the cabinet draft the 2027 threshold is 84,150 euros, so in this example your salary is not enough and compulsory cover continues.
Which deadlines are decisive?
The most important deadline concerns joining voluntary cover. If you want to remain statutorily insured after compulsory cover ends, you must notify the join within three months (§ 9 para. 2 SGB V). For former compulsory members the period runs from the end of membership. If you miss this deadline, you usually cannot base membership on the same ground any more.
For PKV the social security code contains no comparable joining deadline. What counts is that the contract starts in time so that cover follows without a break. Start the paperwork early, because health questions and processing take time.
What speaks for PKV, what against it?
PKV is oriented towards the cover and benefits you want, and it is often an option for graduates with higher earnings and good health. Against it speak rising contributions in old age, the dependence on health information in the application, and the difficulty of returning to statutory insurance later. A planned family can also decide the question, because partners and children may be co-insured free of charge in the statutory scheme.
With PKV you usually pay the premium yourself. An employer contribution under § 257 para. 2 SGB V is possible only if you are exempt because you exceed the threshold and are privately insured. It then depends on half the contribution rate and half the additional contribution, and covers at most half of your premium.
If you are checking a switch concretely, you can get a personal assessment. Personal advice is available from Academycon (in German).
How do you approach the switch step by step?
- Establish the date of your de-registration and the end of compulsory membership.
- Calculate your regular annual earnings from your employment contract.
- Compare this figure with the threshold for the current and the following year.
- Obtain offers based on your health information and check the benefits yourself.
- Time the application so that the new cover starts on the day after compulsory cover ends.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch to PKV straight after my studies?
Not automatically. As long as you earn below the threshold as an employee, or you are still a compulsory member, a switch is not possible. Only exemption and the end of compulsory cover create room for a choice.
Does the threshold change every year?
Yes. The annual earnings threshold is set each year. For 2027 the cabinet draft sets it at 84,150 euros. The figure becomes binding only after the regulation is adopted, so check it before you decide.
What happens if there is a gap between my studies and my job?
You may not be insured during that time. You then need a solution, such as voluntary insurance within the three-month deadline. A gap is risky, because health insurance is compulsory.
Can I return to statutory insurance after switching to PKV?
This is possible only under certain conditions and depends on income, age and periods of insurance. Read the guide Return to statutory insurance (in German) before you decide.
What if my working hours or pay change later?
The assessment then changes. Exemption depends on earnings, not on the number of hours alone. If your pay changes significantly, check whether compulsory insurance applies again or ends.
How to proceed now
- Note your de-registration date and the end of compulsory membership.
- Calculate your regular annual earnings for the current and the following year.
- Decide between compulsory statutory insurance, voluntary GKV and PKV before the deadline runs out.
- Obtain offers and check health information and benefits carefully.
- Make sure the new cover starts without a gap.
Related reading
- Student Health Insurance Germany 2026: Rates and Example
- Private Health Insurance for Working Students in Germany
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
- Student Job 20-Hour Rule, Pension and Semester Breaks
Sources: § 6 SGB V, as of October 2026 (in German), § 9 SGB V, as of October 2026 (in German), § 257 SGB V, as of October 2026 (in German), § 193 VVG, as of October 2026 (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
