Student insurance prices 2026 — with sources
GKV, PKV, OSHC, IHS and more — concrete 2026 figures for the main study destinations among the 35 countries we cover, sourced from insurer websites and government sources.
Germany GKV 2026 — Statutory Health Insurance for Students
All GKV rates use the same legal formula: 10.22% × €855 = €87.38/month base. Only the Zusatzbeitrag (supplementary rate, set per insurer) and nursing care vary. Nursing care: €30.78/month if under 23 or with a child; €35.91/month if 23+ and childless.
Source: TK student contribution 2026,GKV-Spitzenverband list of insurers,Federal Ministry of Health · Verified: 2026-09-30
| Insurer | Zusatzbeitrag 2026 | Monthly <23 or with child | Monthly 23+ childless | Annual <23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOK Rheinland-Pfalz/SaarlandCheapest | 2.47% | €139.28 | €144.41 | €1,671.36 |
| hkk Krankenkasse | 2.59% | €140.30 | €145.43 | €1,683.60 |
| Audi BKK | 2.60% | €140.39 | €145.52 | €1,684.68 |
| AOK Bayern | 2.69% | €141.16 | €146.29 | €1,693.92 |
| Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)Most popular | 2.69% | €141.16 | €146.29 | €1,693.92 |
| HEK — Hanseatische Krankenkasse | 2.89% | €142.87 | €148.00 | €1,714.44 |
| DAK-Gesundheit | 3.20% | €145.52 | €150.65 | €1,746.24 |
| BARMER | 3.29% | €146.29 | €151.42 | €1,755.48 |
| AOK Nordost | 3.50% | €148.09 | €153.22 | €1,777.08 |
| mkk — meine krankenkasse | 3.50% | €148.09 | €153.22 | €1,777.08 |
| Bahn-BKK | 3.65% | €149.37 | €154.50 | €1,792.44 |
| BIG direkt gesund | 3.69% | €149.71 | €154.84 | €1,796.52 |
| KKH — Kaufmännische Krankenkasse | 3.78% | €150.48 | €155.61 | €1,805.76 |
| SBK — Siemens-Betriebskrankenkasse | 3.80% | €150.65 | €155.78 | €1,807.80 |
| IKK classic | 3.85% | €151.08 | €156.21 | €1,812.96 |
| mhplus BKK | 3.86% | €151.16 | €156.29 | €1,813.92 |
| Mobil Krankenkasse | 3.89% | €151.42 | €156.55 | €1,817.04 |
| Formula: Base KV = 10.22% × €855 = €87.38 · + Zusatzbeitrag (%) × €855 · + Pflegeversicherung (€30.78 or €35.91) = Monthly total. AOK consists of regional insurers with different Zusatzbeitrag rates — the table shows the cheapest region, AOK Bayern and the most expensive region. | ||||
Germany PKV 2026 — Private Health Insurance for Students
Private incoming insurance (PKV) is designed for students who are over 30, in a language course / Studienkolleg, or who prefer lower premiums. It does not cover pre-existing conditions. Prices are age-dependent and increase after 18–24 months.
Source: provider tariff sheets · Entry prices (first column) from our tariff data, updated 2026-11-07 · Other columns verified: 2026-04-19
| Provider / Plan | Age 18–29 (months 1–24) | Age 18–29 (month 25+) | Age 30–40 | Co-pay / Excess | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care College Basic | €27.50/mo | €49.50/mo | €33.50–€55/mo | €120/year | Cheapest entry-level; medication cap €250 |
| Care College Comfort | €34/mo | €57/mo | €50–€73/mo | €0 | Medication €500, dental prosthetics 50% |
| MAWISTA Student Classic | €28/mo | — | €44/mo (30–40) | 20% co-pay, max €250/yr | Coverage Germany + EU/Schengen + UK |
| MAWISTA Student Classic Plus | €36/mo | — | €56/mo (30–40) | 15% co-pay, max €250/yr | Higher fee schedule (2.3× GOÄ) |
| Educare24 S | €34.50/mo | €52.50/mo | €58.50/mo | €0 | Medication capped at €250 total per policy |
| Educare24 M | €39/mo | €57/mo | €63/mo | €0 | Includes accident + liability insurance |
| HanseMerkur Basic (Sorglos) | €35.70/mo | ~€50/mo | same | €0 | 80% medication reimbursement; no mental health |
| HanseMerkur Profi | €52.50/mo | ~€65/mo | same | €0 | Psychotherapy €1,000/yr; accident + liability included |
| Provisit Student | €79/mo | same rate | €129/mo (to 45) | €0 | Most comprehensive; psychotherapy 75%; vision €100/2yr; converts to permanent PKV after 5 years |
| PKV is not suitable for students enrolling in a full degree program under age 30 — GKV is mandatory unless exempt. PKV is the right choice for language course / Studienkolleg students, students over 30, and short-term visitors. | |||||
Germany Blocked Accounts (Sperrkonto) 2026
A blocked account is required for the German student visa. You must deposit €11,904 total (€992/month × 12) before your visa appointment. The table below shows provider fees only — the €11,904 deposit is returned to you monthly once in Germany.
Source: DAAD — Study in Germany (deposit),Fintiba,Expatrio,Coracle · Verified: 2026-04-19
| Provider | Setup Fee | Monthly Fee | Total Year 1 | Confirmation Speed | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expatrio Cheapest available | €119 | €9/mo | €227 | ~24 hours | Free German bank account + ISIC card; visa rejection refund |
| Fintiba | €159 | €9.90/mo | €277.80 | Instant (credit card) / 2–4 days | Most established; insurance bundle (GKV via DAK/BARMER or MAWISTA PKV) |
| Coracle Paused | €99 before the pause (no fee published now) | — | — | — | Coracle has not accepted new blocked-account applications since 4 August 2025. Existing customers are not affected; no reopening date has been announced. |
| Required deposit: €11,904 (€992 × 12 months) — returned to you monthly after arrival in Germany. Provider fees above are in addition to the deposit. | |||||
Australia OSHC 2026 — Overseas Student Health Cover
OSHC is mandatory for all international students on an Australian Student Visa (subclass 500). You must hold it for the entire duration of your visa. 5 approved providers remain — CBHS International Health no longer offers OSHC.
Source: ahm,nib,Bupa,Medibank,Allianz Care,CBHS International · 2026 provider quotes · Updated 2026-09-30
| Provider | Single 12 months | ≈ per month | Couple/yr | Family/yr | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allianz Care OSHC Standard Cheapest single | AUD 665 | ~AUD 55 | AUD 5,351 | AUD 9,515 | 24/7 telehealth; optional OSHC Extras add-on |
| ahm | AUD 672 | ~AUD 56 | AUD 6,686 | AUD 13,544 | Part of Medibank; a separate Medibank extras policy can be added |
| Bupa | AUD 712.80 | ~AUD 59 | AUD 5,527.50 (NSW) | AUD 13,691.04 (NSW) | 100% MBS for specialists; optional dental/optical extras; online doctor (Blua) |
| Medibank OSHC Essentials | AUD 719 | ~AUD 60 | AUD 6,031 | AUD 14,121 | Largest OSHC insurer; highest medication benefit per item; Online Doctor in the app |
| nib OSHC Core | AUD 725.81 | ~AUD 60 | AUD 6,402 | AUD 15,979 | Telehealth GP appointments with no out-of-pocket cost |
| Prices: 12 months of cover from each provider's 2026 online quote for its entry-level OSHC (Allianz Care OSHC Standard, Medibank OSHC Essentials, nib OSHC Core); higher tiers such as Medibank OSHC Comprehensive or Allianz Care OSHC Essentials cost more. Bupa's couple and family figures are an NSW quote.Multi-year cover is not simply the 12-month price × years: the insurers' 24- and 36-month quotes are somewhat higher (e.g. ahm AUD 672 / 1,365 / 2,163 for 12 / 24 / 36 months), so get a quote for your exact visa dates from the provider. | |||||
UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) 2026
The UK Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) must be paid upfront when applying for a UK Student Visa. It grants access to the National Health Service (NHS) for the duration of your stay. Paid in full at the time of visa application — you cannot pay monthly.
Source: GOV.UK — how much you have to pay · Verified: 2026-09-30
| Category | Annual Rate | Total — 1 year | Total — 2 years | Total — 3 years | Total — 4 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student | £776/year | £776 | £1,552 | £2,328 | £3,104 |
| Student dependants and applicants under 18 | £776/year | £776 | £1,552 | £2,328 | £3,104 |
| You pay for each whole year of your visa, plus half the yearly amount (£388) for any extra period of 6 months or less, or a full year for an extra period of more than 6 months. Visas of 6 months or less: no surcharge when applying from outside the UK, £388 when applying from inside the UK. Paid in full at visa application — no monthly payment option. NHS coverage includes GP visits, hospital treatment and prescriptions (a flat charge per prescription item applies in England; prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Some universities offer supplementary private health insurance on top of the IHS. | |||||
USA — F-1 student health insurance 2026
No universal healthcare in the USA. Universities require F-1 and J-1 students to be insured — usually through the school's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) unless a waiver is approved.
Source: our USA guide (sources cited there) · Guide updated 2026-10-01
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| University SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan) | $538.80–$9,384.75/year | Students whose school requires it or who want the school's own plan |
| ISO Student Health Insurance | from $33/month | Low entry price for F-1 and J-1 students |
| WorldTrips StudentSecure | from $40/month | $0 deductible and J-1-compliant on every tier |
| Compass Student Insurance | from $43/month | Schools that require ACA-comparable cover (Benchmark tier) |
| IMG Patriot Exchange Program | from $51.20/month | J-1 exchange visitors and families with F-2/J-2 dependants |
France — Sécurité Sociale & mutuelle 2026
All students register with French Social Security (Sécurité Sociale) for free via etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr. It reimburses ~70% — a mutuelle top-up (€10–50/month) covers the rest.
Source: our France guide (sources cited there) · Guide updated 2026-06-19
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sécurité Sociale (Assurance Maladie, base coverage) | Free | All international students — compulsory registration |
| Mutuelle étudiante (top-up insurance) | €10–30/month | Students wanting the remaining ~30% plus dental and optical covered |
| Mutuelle premium | €30–50/month | Students wanting strong dental, optical and mental-health cover |
| Private student insurance (non-EU, visa/gap) | €20–50/month | Non-EU students for the visa and the period before Sécu activates |
| EHIC + optional travel supplement (EU/EEA/Swiss) | Free + optional €5–20/month | EU/EEA/Swiss students on any stay length |
Spain — private insurance & Convenio Especial 2026
Non-EU students need visa-compliant health insurance for the Spanish study visa and every extension. Private student policies start at around €41–€55 per month in 2026; the public Convenio Especial costs €60/month after one year of residence.
Source: our Spain guide (sources cited there) · Guide updated 2026-10-01
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sanitas International Students | From €41.45/month | Students who want a large private network plus emergency cover when travelling |
| Adeslas Welcome | From €660/year (single annual payment) | Students who can pay the full year upfront |
| ASISA Health Students | Online quote | Stays of 2 to 12 months |
| DKV Visado | Online quote | Students who want a visa policy from DKV Seguros |
| Convenio Especial (public SNS cover) | €60/month (under 65) | Students who have lived in Spain for at least one year |
| European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) | Free (EU/EEA/Swiss students) | Erasmus+ and other EU/EEA students who stay insured at home |
Netherlands — Basisverzekering & student cover 2026
Study-only students cannot use Dutch public insurance: EU students use EHIC, non-EU students buy private cover (~€40/mo). Dutch basisverzekering (€159/mo) is only mandatory once you work or do a paid internship.
Source: our Netherlands guide (sources cited there) · Guide updated 2026-06-19
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch Basic Insurance (Basisverzekering) | €135–€160/month | Students who work part-time/full-time or do a qualifying paid internship |
| Private International Student Insurance (Aon ICS, OOM, etc.) | €40–€60/month | Non-EU study-only students who cannot use basisverzekering or EHIC |
| EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) | Free | EU/EEA/Swiss study-only students |
| Supplementary / Dental Insurance (aanvullende verzekering) | €10–€30/month | Adults wanting dental, physio or extra coverage on top of basisverzekering |
| Healthcare Allowance (Zorgtoeslag) — subsidy, not insurance | Up to +€129/month back | Low-income students who HAVE Dutch basisverzekering |
Other Countries — Quick Price Snapshot 2026
The main insurance option and its typical cost for other popular study destinations, taken from our country guides. EU/EEA students can often use their EHIC; non-EU students must check local visa requirements. Open a guide for all options, sources and details.
Source: our country guides (sources cited there) · Guides updated up to 2026-11-09
| Country | Main insurance option | Typical cost | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) — voluntary registration | €700/year flat (~€58/month) | Non-EU students must prove valid health coverage to get a study residence permit — the permit can't be longer than the cover |
| Ireland | Specialist Student Visa Insurance | €150–€200/year (~€13–€17/month) | Non-EU/EEA students must hold private health insurance to register for the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) on Stamp 2 |
| Sweden | Kammarkollegiet FAS / FASplus (fee-paying students) | Free for the student (paid by the university) | EU/EEA and Swiss students use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for necessary care at Swedish patient fees |
| Poland | NFZ Voluntary Insurance (Non-EU Students) | PLN 55.80/month (~€13) | Health insurance is required for the residence permit and by many universities at enrolment |
| Hungary | University Group Health Insurance | Often included in the tuition fee | A residence permit requires proof of comprehensive health insurance, or proof that you can pay for your medical care yourself |
| Austria | ÖGK Studierendenselbstversicherung (student self-insurance) | €78.84/month (2026) | Health insurance covering all risks is mandatory for every student in Austria |
| Czech Republic | Comprehensive insurance (komplexní) — non-EU students | CZK 850–1,500/month (~€34–€60) | Health insurance is mandatory for every student staying longer than 90 days |
| Portugal | EHIC (EU/EEA/Swiss students) | Free | EU/EEA/Swiss students access Portugal's public SNS immediately with a valid EHIC |
| Japan | National Health Insurance (NHI/Kokuho) | ~¥1,700/month with no income | National Health Insurance (NHI/Kokuho) is mandatory for every registered foreign resident staying more than 3 months without other Japanese public health insurance — private or overseas student insurance does not exempt you |
| Canada | UHIP (Ontario universities) | CAD 79/month | Every international student in Canada needs health coverage for the whole stay — your province and your school decide which plan |
| New Zealand | Studentsafe Inbound University | NZD 899/year (2026) | Holding appropriate medical and travel insurance is a condition of the student visa — you declare in your application that you will have insurance acceptable to your education provider |
| Singapore | NUS Student Insurance Scheme | S$160/semester | Singapore's public universities (NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SUSS and others) insure their full-time students through a compulsory group scheme — there is no opt-out |
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