The cheapest private health insurance (PKV) for students in Germany starts at €26/month — Care College Basic for students under 29. For comprehensive coverage that includes dental prosthetics, pregnancy with no waiting period, and psychotherapy, expect to pay €53–€129/month. All 5 providers are visa-compliant. The right choice depends on your age, study duration, and specific coverage needs.
Private health insurance is the only option for many international students in Germany. If you are over 30, enrolled in a language course, attending Studienkolleg, completing a short exchange, or missed the GKV enrollment window, PKV is your path. This guide compares all 5 providers with real 2026 prices and honest assessments.
Who Needs Private Health Insurance (PKV) in Germany?
You need PKV — not GKV (public insurance) — if you fall into one of these groups:
- Over 30 — GKV student tariffs only apply if you are under 30 (with few exceptions)
- Language course or Studienkolleg — these are not recognized degree programs for GKV purposes
- Exchange student staying less than 1 year — GKV enrollment is rarely practical
- Missed the GKV enrollment deadline — GKV requires enrollment within 3 months of starting studies
- Au pair — not enrolled as a student, so GKV is not available on student terms
- PhD on a stipend — stipend holders are often not eligible for GKV student rates
- Over-30 doctoral candidate — GKV closes after your 30th birthday
If you qualify for GKV and are under 30, read our GKV comparison for 2026 first — it costs about €141/month but covers everything including psychotherapy, dental checkups, and all pre-existing conditions.
Quick Comparison: All 5 PKV Providers at a Glance
| Provider | Cheapest plan | Price (under 30) | Age limit | Deductible | Psychotherapy | Visa OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care College | Basic | €26/mo | up to 40 | €120/year (Basic) | No | Yes |
| MAWISTA Student | Classic | €28/mo | up to 40 | 20% co-pay | No | Yes |
| educare24 | S | €34.50/mo | up to 69 | €0 | Acute only (€500) | Yes |
| HanseMerkur Young Travel | Basic | ~€36/mo | up to 35 | €0 | Profi only (€1,000/yr) | Yes |
| Provisit Student | Standard | €79/mo | No limit | €0 | Yes — 75% (after 8-mo wait) | Yes |
Note: Prices are for the first 12–24 months. All providers raise rates after month 13–25. Prices for students over 30 are significantly higher.
MAWISTA Student — Best Entry Price, But Co-Payments Apply
Provider: MAWISTA (specialist for international students) Age limit: Up to 40 Coverage area: Germany + EU/Schengen + UK Duration: 1–60 months
MAWISTA Student is Germany’s most popular private insurance for international students. It offers three tiers and is the only provider that allows retroactive enrollment within 31 days of entry.
Plan Overview
| Plan | Price (age 18–29) | Price (age 30–40) | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | €28/mo | €44/mo | 20% per claim, max €250/year |
| Classic Plus | €36/mo | €56/mo | 15% per claim, max €250/year |
| Comfort | €74/mo | €104/mo | 10% per claim, max €250/year |
What Is Covered
Classic (€28/mo):
- Outpatient: medically necessary treatment up to 1.8× GOÄ fee schedule
- Hospital: general ward, shared room
- Dental: pain relief up to €500/year (no prosthetics)
- Medication: covered with 20% co-pay (no annual cap)
- Pregnancy: complications from day 1; checkups after 3-month wait; childbirth after 8-month wait
- Repatriation: unlimited (medical); €25,000 (death)
Classic Plus (€36/mo):
- Same as Classic but with reduced co-pay of 15% and outpatient up to 2.3× GOÄ
Comfort (€74/mo):
- Outpatient up to 3.5× GOÄ + preventive care
- Dental: €500/year pain relief + prosthetics 60% up to €1,000/year (8-month wait)
- Medication: 10% co-pay (no annual cap)
- Pregnancy: covered from day 1 with no waiting period (must not be pregnant at enrollment)
- Vaccinations: STIKO-recommended up to €250/semester
- Home visits: up to 6 weeks/year
Who Should Choose MAWISTA?
Classic is right for you if: You are 18–29, healthy, need basic visa-compliant coverage at minimum cost, and can accept a 20% co-pay per claim (capped at €250/year).
Classic Plus is right for you if: You want slightly better outpatient coverage and a lower co-pay rate.
Comfort is right for you if: You want dental prosthetics, pregnancy coverage from day 1, and lower co-pays — and do not need psychotherapy.
Critical note: MAWISTA excludes psychotherapy on ALL plans, including Comfort. If mental health coverage matters to you, choose HanseMerkur Young Travel Profi or Provisit Student.
Example: A 25-year-old language student pays €28/month with MAWISTA Classic. If she sees a doctor twice a year for routine issues totaling €200 in treatment costs, her annual co-pay amounts to €40 — well within the €250 annual cap.
Care College — Absolute Lowest Entry Price
Provider: Care Concept (since 1999) Age limit: Up to 40 Coverage area: Germany + EU/EEA (excludes USA, Canada, Mexico) Duration: 1–60 months
Care College is the cheapest private student insurance in Germany. At €26/month for the Basic plan, it costs less than any competitor. The trade-off: prices jump significantly after month 24, and no plan covers psychotherapy.
Plan Overview
| Plan | Price under 29 (months 1–24) | Price under 29 (from month 25) | Price 30–40 (months 1–24) | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | €26/mo | €49.50/mo | €32/mo | €120/year |
| Comfort | €32/mo | €57/mo | €48/mo | €0 |
| Premium | €48/mo | €73/mo | €75/mo | €0 |
What Is Covered
Basic (€26/mo):
- Outpatient: medically necessary treatment up to 1.8× GOÄ
- Hospital: general ward, shared room; inpatient psychiatric covered
- Dental: pain relief up to €500/year; no prosthetics
- Medication: 100% covered up to €250/year
- Pregnancy: checkups with €50 deductible per visit; delivery after 8-month wait
- Repatriation: up to €10,000 (medical); €25,000 (death)
Comfort (€32/mo):
- Outpatient up to 2.3× GOÄ + preventive care
- Hospital: sick pay €1,500 after 14+ day stay; €500 visitor costs
- Dental: pain relief up to €750/year + prosthetics 50% up to €500 (8-month wait, 2-year period)
- Medication: 100% up to €500/year
- Pregnancy: checkups covered without deductible; delivery after 8-month wait
- Repatriation: 100% covered (medical); €25,000 (death)
- Bonus: 2 months’ premium refund if no claims in a policy year
Premium (€48/mo):
- Outpatient: comprehensive including specialist visits up to 2.3× GOÄ
- Hospital: sick pay €2,500 + €100/day hospital allowance from day 14; €1,250 visitor costs
- Dental: pain relief up to €1,250/year + prosthetics 70% up to €1,000 (8-month wait)
- Medication: 100% up to €1,500/year
- Vision: €100 (3-month waiting period)
- Repatriation: 100% covered
Who Should Choose Care College?
Basic is right for you if: You are under 29 and need visa-compliant coverage for up to 2 years at the absolute lowest price. Accept a €120/year deductible and very limited medication cap (€250/year).
Comfort is right for you if: You want zero deductible, some dental prosthetics coverage, and plan to stay up to 2 years. The no-claims refund (2 months) helps if you stay healthy.
Premium is right for you if: You want stronger dental, higher medication coverage, and a hospital allowance — still at competitive prices for years 1–2.
Warning for multi-year students: If you plan a 3- to 5-year degree, prices increase substantially after month 24. A 26-year-old paying €26/month in year 1 pays €49.50 from month 25. Run the full-term cost before committing.
educare24 — Best for Older Students and Built-In Add-Ons
Provider: DR-WALTER (specialist since 1959) Age limit: Up to 69 — highest on the market Coverage area: Germany + EU/Schengen Duration: 1–60 months
educare24 is unique for two reasons: its 4-tier structure bundles accident and liability insurance into the M, L, and XL plans — and it accepts students up to age 69. The health coverage differences between tiers are minimal. The real upgrade path is about extras, not medical benefits.
Plan Overview
| Plan | Price (up to 39), months 1–18 | Price (up to 39), from month 19 | Price (40–69), months 1–18 | Main extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | €34.50/mo | €52.50/mo | €58.50/mo | Health only |
| M | €39/mo | €57/mo | €63/mo | + Accident (€105k disability) + Liability (€1M) |
| L | €43.50/mo | €61.50/mo | €70.50/mo | + Expanded dental |
| XL | €63/mo | €90/mo | €87/mo | + Statutory program benefits (€500/year) |
What Is Covered (All Plans)
- Outpatient: medically necessary treatment up to 2.3× GOÄ/GOZ
- Hospital: inpatient treatment and operations covered
- Dental: pain relief up to €500 per insurance period; no prosthetics on S and M (L and XL: accident prosthetics up to €2,000)
- Medication: prescribed medication up to €250 total for the entire policy period (not per year)
- Mental health: acute psychiatric treatment up to €500 per case (psychotherapy excluded)
- Pregnancy: checkups and childbirth covered — conception must occur after policy start
- Repatriation: medically necessary; €30,000 death/burial costs
M plan additional coverage:
- Accident insurance: €105,000 disability coverage; €5,000 death benefit
- Personal liability: €1,000,000
- Deportation cost coverage: €4,000
Who Should Choose educare24?
S plan is right for you if: You want basic visa-compliant coverage from a trusted German provider at €34.50/month.
M plan is the best value: For only €4.50 more than S, you gain accident insurance worth €105,000 disability, €1 million liability, and deportation cost protection. This is especially important if you ride a bicycle or participate in sports.
For students over 40: educare24 is one of very few providers that accepts applicants up to age 69 — making it the main option for visiting professors, mature doctoral students, and adult learners.
Critical warning: The medication limit of €250 for the entire policy period (not per year) is extremely restrictive. If you take regular medication — for asthma, thyroid conditions, or anything requiring monthly prescriptions — this plan may not cover your needs. Choose Provisit Student instead.
Example: A 42-year-old visiting scholar in Munich needs visa-compliant insurance. All other PKV options cut off at age 40. educare24 M gives him €39/month health coverage plus accident and liability insurance — the only practical option in this price range.
HanseMerkur Young Travel — Only PKV with Psychotherapy at This Price
Provider: HanseMerkur (since 1875) Age limit: Up to 35 — lowest among competitors Coverage area: Germany + EU/Schengen Duration: 1–60 months
HanseMerkur Young Travel is technically a travel health insurance product — not a substitutive health insurance. This distinction matters for long-term residence permits. But for language courses, au pair stays, exchange programs, and short internships, it is a strong option. The Profi plan is the only PKV product under €80/month that covers psychotherapy.
Plan Overview
| Plan | Price (up to 35), months 1–12 | Price (up to 35), from month 13 | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (Sorglos) | ~€36/mo (€1.19/day) | ~€50/mo (€1.65/day) | €0 |
| Profi (Premium) | ~€53/mo (€1.75/day) | ~€65/mo (€2.15/day) | €0 |
What Is Covered
Basic (€36/mo):
- Outpatient: 100% medically necessary treatment
- Hospital: inpatient covered; €75/day alternative hospital allowance (up to 14 days)
- Dental: pain relief and fillings up to €250; accident prosthetics up to €500
- Medication: 80% reimbursement for prescribed medication (no cap)
- Mental health: not covered
- Pregnancy: checkups up to €250/year; complications and premature birth covered
- Repatriation: €20,000 (medical repatriation or burial)
- Optional add-on (€0.27/day): accident (€20k disability, €10k death) + liability (€1M)
Profi (€53/mo):
- Outpatient: 100% medically necessary + preventive care
- Hospital: fully covered; €75/day hospital allowance
- Dental: 100% pain relief; accident prosthetics up to €2,000; ongoing prosthetics up to €2,000/year
- Medication: 100% reimbursement (no cap)
- Mental health: psychotherapy up to €1,000/year (maximum 5 sessions per insurance year)
- Pregnancy: full coverage including exams, delivery, and complications
- Repatriation: €20,000
- Includes: accident insurance (€60k disability, €20k death) + liability (€2.5M) + cancer screening
- Vision: not covered on either plan
Who Should Choose HanseMerkur Young Travel?
Basic is right for you if: You are under 35, doing a language course or au pair stay, need budget coverage, and can accept limited dental and no mental health.
Profi is right for you if: You are under 35, want comprehensive coverage including psychotherapy (5 sessions/year), full dental including prosthetics, and 100% medication — all bundled with accident and liability insurance. At €53/month this is outstanding value.
Important limitation: Young Travel is a travel health insurance, not a substitutive plan (§146 VAG). For language course visas and short stays this typically works. For long-term student residence permits requiring substitutive coverage, check with your immigration office. Full-degree students may need MAWISTA, Care College, or Provisit Student instead.
Pre-existing conditions: HanseMerkur covers pre-existing conditions with a €5,000 personal contribution and a maximum benefit cap of €30,000. This partial coverage is unusual — most PKV plans exclude pre-existing conditions entirely.
Provisit Student — Most Comprehensive, No Age Limit
Provider: DR-WALTER / Barmenia (trusted German insurer) Age limit: None — the only PKV student plan without age restriction Coverage area: Germany + Europe Duration: 2–60 months (converts to unlimited coverage after 5 years)
Provisit Student is designed to match GKV coverage scope. It is the most comprehensive private student insurance available in Germany. It is also the most expensive — and the only plan that covers psychotherapy, vision aids, and long-term care insurance together.
Plan Overview
Provisit Student has a single plan with age-based pricing:
| Age group | Monthly price |
|---|---|
| Up to 29 | €79/mo |
| 30–45 | €129/mo |
| 46–59 | €166/mo |
| 60+ | €650/mo |
What Is Covered
- Outpatient: Comprehensive treatment + preventive checkups
- Hospital: Inpatient care; €30/day hospital allowance from day 15; €1,500 recovery payment per event
- Dental: Treatment and prophylaxis 100% up to €500/year, then 50%; prosthetics 50% up to €500/year; accident prosthetics 100% up to €2,500
- Medication: No annual cap — unlimited coverage for prescribed medication
- Mental health: Psychotherapy covered at 75% (8-month waiting period)
- Pregnancy: Statutory prenatal checkups, childbirth, midwife services covered (8-month wait; must not be pregnant at enrollment)
- Vision: Up to €100 every 2 years for glasses or contacts
- Repatriation: Medical repatriation covered; €30,000 death/burial costs
- Long-term care insurance: Included
- Substitutive coverage: Classified as §146 VAG — the highest regulatory standard
Free bonus: Provisit Incoming covers you for up to 92 days before your studies start — no gap between arrival and enrollment.
Who Should Choose Provisit Student?
Provisit Student is right for you if:
- You are over 30 and most other plans are unavailable or cost-prohibitive
- You need psychotherapy coverage (the only plan that covers it comprehensively)
- You are a doctoral student or researcher planning a 3–5 year stay
- You need the highest-rated coverage for consulate applications
- You need long-term continuity (converts to permanent coverage after 5 years)
Not right for you if: You are under 30 and healthy — the entry price of €79/month is 3× the cheapest alternative.
Example: A 32-year-old PhD student from India starts a 4-year program in Hamburg. GKV is not available to her. MAWISTA Student Comfort costs €104/month at age 30+. Provisit Student costs €129/month. For €25 more per month, she gets psychotherapy coverage, unlimited medication, vision aids, long-term care insurance, and coverage that converts permanently after 5 years.
Head-to-Head Comparison: All 5 Providers
| Feature | MAWISTA Classic | Care College Comfort | educare24 M | HanseMerkur Profi | Provisit Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (under 29) | €28/mo | €32/mo | €39/mo | ~€53/mo | €79/mo |
| Price (age 30–35) | €44/mo | €48/mo | €39/mo | ~€53/mo | €129/mo |
| Age limit | 40 | 40 | 69 | 35 | None |
| Deductible | 20%, max €250/yr | €0 | €0 | €0 | €0 |
| Outpatient | Up to 1.8× GOÄ | Up to 2.3× GOÄ | Up to 2.3× GOÄ | 100% + preventive | Comprehensive |
| Dental (basic) | Pain relief €500/yr | Pain relief €750/yr | Pain relief €500 | 100% incl. prosthetics | €500/yr (100%) + prosthetics |
| Dental prosthetics | No | 50% up to €500 | Accident only (€2,000) | €2,000/yr ongoing | 50% up to €500/yr |
| Medication | No cap (20% co-pay) | 100% up to €500/yr | €250 total (whole period) | 100% no cap | No cap |
| Mental health | No | No | Acute only (€500) | €1,000/yr (5 sessions) | 75% (8-mo wait) |
| Pregnancy | 8-mo wait for birth | 8-mo wait for birth | No waiting period | Full coverage | 8-mo wait |
| Vision | No | Prem. only (€100) | No | No | €100/2 years |
| Repatriation | Unlimited | 100% | €30,000 | €20,000 | €30,000 |
| Retroactive enrollment | Yes (31 days) | No | Yes (1 month) | No | No |
| Accident insurance | No | No | €105k (M plan) | €60k (included) | No |
| Liability insurance | No | No | €1M (M plan) | €2.5M (included) | No |
| Substitutive (§146 VAG) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Visa compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (check for long-term permits) | Yes |
Which PKV Is Right for You? 5 Personas
Persona 1: Language Student / Studienkolleg (3–12 months)
Best choice: Care College Basic or HanseMerkur Young Travel Basic
You need visa-compliant coverage for a short period. Budget is the priority. Care College Basic at €26/month is the cheapest option. HanseMerkur Basic at €36/month adds 80% medication reimbursement with no annual cap, which is better if you take any regular medication.
Skip: Provisit Student (too expensive for short stays)
Persona 2: Under-30 Degree Student Who Missed GKV Enrollment
Best choice: MAWISTA Student Classic Plus or Care College Comfort
You missed the 3-month GKV window. For a 3- to 5-year degree, run the total cost:
- MAWISTA Classic Plus: €36/month flat (no price increase)
- Care College Comfort: €32/month (months 1–24), then €57/month (from month 25)
For a 4-year degree, MAWISTA Classic Plus totals €1,728. Care College Comfort totals €768 + €1,596 = €2,364. MAWISTA wins on long stays.
Persona 3: Over-30 Student
Best choice: educare24 M or Provisit Student
- Budget option: educare24 M at €63/month for ages 40–69 (months 1–18) — and it accepts up to age 69. MAWISTA and Care College cut off at 40.
- Comprehensive option: Provisit Student at €129/month (ages 30–45) — full coverage including psychotherapy, unlimited medication, vision aids.
- Budget under 40: MAWISTA Comfort at €104/month vs. Provisit at €129/month. Provisit adds psychotherapy and better long-term continuity.
Persona 4: Student Who Needs Mental Health Coverage
Best choice: HanseMerkur Young Travel Profi (if under 35) or Provisit Student
Only two providers cover psychotherapy at all:
- HanseMerkur Profi: €53/month, covers 5 sessions/year up to €1,000 (8-month wait waived? — check terms)
- Provisit Student: €79/month (under 29), covers 75% of psychotherapy costs after 8-month wait
If you are under 35, Profi gives you 5 therapy sessions/year for €26 less per month than Provisit. If you need more intensive therapy or are over 35, Provisit is the right choice.
Persona 5: Exchange Student or Short-Term Intern (1–6 months)
Best choice: HanseMerkur Young Travel Basic or MAWISTA Classic
For stays under 6 months, both options are flexible:
- MAWISTA Classic allows retroactive enrollment within 31 days of arrival
- HanseMerkur Young Travel uses daily pricing — easy to match your exact stay length
- Both are visa-compliant for short-term visas
PKV vs GKV: Which Should You Choose?
| Question | PKV answer | GKV answer |
|---|---|---|
| Price (under 30) | €26–€79/month | ~€141/month |
| Pre-existing conditions | Mostly excluded | Covered from day 1 |
| Psychotherapy | Only HanseMerkur Profi and Provisit | Always included |
| Dental checkups | Limited | 2x/year always included |
| No enrollment deadline | Yes | Must enroll within 3 months of starting |
| Available over 30 | Yes | No (student rates end at 30) |
| Available for language courses | Yes | No |
Bottom line: If you are under 30 and qualify for GKV, the additional €62–€115/month over PKV buys you genuinely better coverage — especially for pre-existing conditions, mental health, and dental. If GKV is not available to you, PKV is not a compromise. It is solid coverage that meets German visa requirements.
Read more: Private vs. Public Health Insurance for Students in Germany
How to Switch from PKV to GKV
If you are on PKV and later become eligible for GKV — for example, after starting a recognized degree program or before turning 30 — you can switch. Steps:
- Contact your target GKV (TK, AOK, BARMER, DAK) and request enrollment
- Cancel your PKV policy — most require 1 month’s notice to the end of a calendar month
- Make sure there is no gap in coverage
Read the full guide: How to Switch Health Insurance as a Student in Germany
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PKV really accepted for the German student visa?
Yes. All 5 providers in this comparison are accepted by German embassies and immigration authorities for student visa applications. Look for the phrase “visa-compliant” or “Visumskonformität” in the policy documents. HanseMerkur Young Travel may need verification for long-term residence permits that require substitutive coverage.
Can I get PKV if I arrive in Germany without insurance?
MAWISTA and educare24 both allow retroactive enrollment — MAWISTA within 31 days of arrival, educare24 within 1 month of entry. Care College, HanseMerkur, and Provisit do not offer retroactive enrollment. Act quickly after arrival.
What does “waiting period” mean?
A waiting period is a delay between when your policy starts and when a specific benefit becomes active. Most common: 8-month wait for dental prosthetics or childbirth. This means you must be insured for 8 months before those benefits kick in. Complications are usually covered immediately from day 1.
Does PKV cover pre-existing conditions?
Generally no. Most PKV plans exclude conditions you had before taking out the policy. Exceptions: HanseMerkur Young Travel covers pre-existing conditions with a €5,000 personal contribution and €30,000 maximum benefit. GKV covers all pre-existing conditions from day 1.
Is the cheapest plan always the right choice?
Not always. The cheapest plan (Care College Basic at €26/month) has a €120/year deductible, very limited medication coverage (€250/year), and pain-relief-only dental. If you need regular medication or more comprehensive coverage, the cost difference between Basic and Comfort is often worth it.
Are any providers better for specific nationalities?
No. All 5 providers are open to international students regardless of nationality. What matters is your age, study type, and coverage requirements.
What happens if I need emergency treatment abroad?
All 5 providers cover medical repatriation if you need emergency transport back to Germany. Coverage areas differ: MAWISTA includes UK, Care College excludes USA/Canada/Mexico, HanseMerkur and educare24 cover Schengen, Provisit covers Europe. Check the policy if you plan to travel outside the coverage zone.
Can I keep my PKV when I finish my degree?
Student PKV policies are time-limited. Provisit Student uniquely converts to a permanent (unlimited) tariff after 5 years. Other providers’ policies end when you are no longer enrolled. After graduating, you need to arrange standard health insurance — either GKV as an employee or a regular private plan.
Related Articles
- GKV Comparison 2026: TK vs AOK vs BARMER vs DAK
- Private vs. Public Health Insurance for Students in Germany
- Health Insurance in Germany After Turning 30
- Health Insurance for Language Course and Studienkolleg Students
- How to Switch Health Insurance as a Student
Ready to Apply?
Use our Insurance Finder to get a personalized recommendation based on your age, study type, and budget. Or go directly to the comparison hub to see all plans side by side.
For PKV-specific advice, visit our Private Health Insurance Germany guide.
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