Daily life
Health insurance, a mandatory step that's rarely explained well.
Without proof of health insurance, there's no visa and no enrollment in Germany. Here's how it actually works, depending on your path.
Public or private: the real difference
Germany has two systems: public insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV), with funds like TK or AOK, and private insurance (private Krankenversicherung), used mainly by international students before they're formally enrolled. The choice isn't always yours to make: it depends on your path and your age.
Depending on your path
Studium (university studies)
To get your visa and enroll, you usually start with private insurance (from about €28/month for the first two years). If you're under 30 when you enroll, you then have to switch to public insurance (about €130 to €165/month), mandatory for the rest of your studies.
Ausbildung (paid apprenticeship)
This is the simplest case: as soon as your contract is signed, you're an employee like any other. Your company automatically enrolls you in public insurance, with contributions shared with the employer. You have no insurance steps to handle on your own before leaving.
Fachkraft (qualified work)
Same logic as Ausbildung: your employment contract automatically enrolls you in public insurance as soon as you start.
The names you'll come across most often
So you can recognize them during your process.
TK, AOK (public insurance)
≈ €130 to €165/monthMandatory as soon as you enroll at university if you're under 30, and automatic for Ausbildung or Fachkraft.
DR-Walter, Mawista, Care Concept (private insurance)
from ≈ €28/monthUseful for getting your student visa and enrolling, before switching to public insurance if you're under 30. The rate usually rises after the first two years.
Indicative prices, to confirm directly with the provider when you apply: they depend on your age and change regularly.
Frequently asked questions about health insurance
Not sure yet which insurance applies to you?
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