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Germany: Health insurance choices for students
The Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg is advising students to carefully consider their health insurance options at the start of their studies. Choosing between private and statutory insurance is not merely a formality and can have long-term financial implications.
Students who were previously privately insured through their parents can maintain that status, but they must apply for an exemption from the statutory insurance obligation. For children of civil servants, opting for private health insurance (PKV) often results in low initial costs because they typically receive 80 percent subsidies (Beihilfe) from the state.
However, these benefits change once the individual reaches age 25, as the family supplement and the corresponding subsidy entitlement end. The Verbraucherzentrale warns that switching from private back to statutory insurance is nearly impossible once the exemption is granted, unless the student's insurance status changes due to starting a qualifying job.
Entities
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Those previously privately insured through parents can remain so but must be exempted from statutory insurance obligations. www.kurierverlag.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Switching from private to statutory health insurance is nearly impossible during the course of studies. www.kurierverlag.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Students should carefully weigh their health insurance decisions at the start of their studies. www.kurierverlag.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The family supplement and associated civil servant subsidies (Beihilfe) for private insurance end when a person turns 25. www.kurierverlag.de · www.volksfreund.de · www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de