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    Health Insurance for Foreigners in Germany
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    Care College (Studienkolleg, embassy + Kolleg)from €27.50/month (up to 5 years)

    Health Insurance for the Studienkolleg in Germany: Proof, Registration, Course Start & Residence Permit

    Sources: § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 9 SGB V · § 199a SGB V (M10) · § 16f AufenthG · § 5 AufenthG · HanseMerkur Care College AVB

    A Studienkolleg is a preparatory institution, NOT yet immatriculation at a German university — and that single fact decides which insurance is recognised. Mandatory GKV under § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 9 SGB V and the M10 electronic notification under § 199a SGB V only start with university immatriculation, so DAK-Studenten and Care Student will reject Studienkolleg applications. The recognised tariff is Care College from €27.50/month (up to 5 years) (HanseMerkur) — accepted by the German embassy for the Studienkolleg D visa (§ 16f AufenthG), by the Ausländerbehörde for the residence permit and by every Studienkolleg for course registration, with cover up to 60 months including all holidays.

    On the day the university confirms the study place after a passed Feststellungsprüfung (FSP), switch from Care College to DAK-Studenten (under 30, statutory) or Care Student from €101.54/month (up to 5 years) (over 30 / GKV-exempt) — the M10 notification then starts automatically (full workflow in the M10 enrolment proof guide). The mistakes mirror the language-course phase: do not buy DAK before immatriculation, and do not use Care Visa Protect (max 92 days) for a 1–2 semester Studienkolleg.

    Below: why DAK and Care Student reject Studienkolleg files, why Care Visa Protect is not enough for the whole Kolleg, the five most common mistakes that block the residence permit or the Studienkolleg registration, the cover handover on university immatriculation day, holiday coverage, and the full Care College / Care Student / DAK price tables.

    Student Coverage

    DAK-Gesundheit or HanseMerkur student options

    Enrollment Proof

    M10 notification for eligible university enrollment flows

    Visa & University Documents

    Receive confirmation for visa or enrollment steps where applicable

    4.9/5

    Over 10,000 policies issued · Since 2009

    Studienkolleg place confirmed? Get Care College in 5 minutes — accepted by embassy, Ausländerbehörde and Kolleg.

    🏛️ Authority-approved📄 Instant proof🔒 DAK / HanseMerkur🏷️ Transparent pricing
    4.9/5· Since 2009 · 10,000+ policies· Since 2009 · Over 10,000 policies issued

    Five typical mistakes that block the Studienkolleg residence permit or registration

    Quick answer: "Why was my Studienkolleg residence permit or registration rejected?" — most files share one of five issues: trying to buy DAK-Studenten or Care Student before university immatriculation; using Care Visa Protect for the whole 12-month Studienkolleg; coverage gaps during Studienkolleg holidays; forgetting to switch to DAK or Care Student on the day the university confirms the study place; or booking only Schengen cover when the Studienkolleg requires a national D visa under § 16f AufenthG.

    Avoid the mistakes that can delay your application

    Enrollment can stall without M10

    DAK Student and Care Student support electronic M10 notification for eligible university enrollment flows.

    Under 30 or over 30?

    DAK Student fits many students up to age 29; Care Student can fit private student coverage up to age 39.

    Private or statutory confusion

    Choosing the wrong route can create extra steps. Check statutory, private and exemption rules before applying.

    Language school is different

    Care College is better for language school, Studienkolleg, DSH and educational stays — not M10 university enrollment.

    What a rejected Studienkolleg residence permit actually costs

    One wrong insurance choice can cost you money, time and your application deadline

    A medical incident can become expensive fast — but the wrong certificate can also delay your visa, enrollment, residence permit or work start.

    🏥

    €500–€1,500

    Emergency doctor visit

    One urgent doctor or emergency-room visit can already create a painful bill — before tests, medication or follow-up treatment are added.

    🏨

    €2,000–€10,000+

    Hospital treatment

    If observation, surgery, overnight stay or specialist treatment is needed, costs can quickly move from hundreds to thousands of euros.

    🎓

    1 missed M10

    Enrollment can get stuck

    For university enrollment, the wrong insurance route can delay the electronic M10 notification to your university.

    • Wrong or incomplete proof can delay your visa, enrollment or authority process.
    • Cheap home-country policies may miss the exact coverage, dates or repatriation wording required.
    • The cheapest policy can become expensive if it is the wrong proof for your situation.

    Before you apply, check: coverage amount, validity dates, destination area and repatriation cover.

    Course start fixed — get the recognised certificate before the registration deadline

    Why act before university enrollment

    University enrollment can depend on the right insurance route. Waiting too long can delay M10 notification or create extra steps.

    🎓

    M10 timing matters

    DAK Student and Care Student can support M10 university enrollment flows where applicable.

    📄

    Wrong route creates delays

    Language school, Studienkolleg and DSH usually need Care College, not the university M10 route.

    ⚡

    Apply before enrollment pressure

    Prepare insurance proof before the university or visa office asks for it urgently.

    ✅

    Under 30 or over 30?

    DAK Student and Care Student serve different student situations. Check age and eligibility before applying.

    From application to Studienkolleg registration — in 3 steps

    10 minutes online. Care College issues the recognised certificate within minutes — accepted by the embassy for the Studienkolleg D visa, by the Ausländerbehörde for the residence permit and by the Studienkolleg for registration. On university immatriculation day, switch to DAK or Care Student so the M10 notification can be filed automatically.

    Ready for university enrollment in 3 steps

    DAK Student or Care Student for university enrollment, M10 notification and proof of coverage.

    1. Choose your student plan

      DAK statutory student cover up to age 29 · Care Student private student cover up to age 39. For language school or Studienkolleg, use Care College.

    2. Complete the application

      Enter your passport, university/program and stay details. M10 applies to DAK Student and Care Student university enrollment flows.

    3. Receive your proof

      Receive visa or insurance proof after application; where applicable, the electronic M10 notification can be sent to the university.

    What students say about Care College for Studienkolleg before university enrolment

    4.9/5 · Since 2009 · Over 10,000 policies issued
    5/5
    “My biggest worry was that the embassy wouldn't accept the insurance.
    The proof was accepted immediately — no questions asked.
    That saved me a lot of stress.”
    Georges from Cameroon

    Georges

    Cameroon

    5/5
    “I needed proof of insurance urgently for my visa appointment.
    The confirmation arrived within minutes by email.
    Everything worked first time at the embassy.”
    Olga from Russia

    Olga

    Russia

    5/5
    “Found the best solution and best service for health insurance for foreign visitors and guests in Germany.
    Fast, simple and affordable.
    Highly recommended!”
    Michael from Germany

    Michael

    Germany

    5/5
    “The online sign-up was done in just a few minutes.
    When I actually had to see a doctor, the billing went smoothly.
    I was really covered — not just on paper.”
    Yunhee from Australia

    Yunhee

    Australia

    Now choose your plan

    4.9/5 · Since 2009 · Over 10,000 policies issued

    Full price tables — all brackets by age & duration

    Quick answer: The three recognised student tariffs cover the full timeline: Care College (€27.50–138/month) for the Studienkolleg phase, then DAK-Gesundheit (~€135.52/month) from university immatriculation for under-30s, or Care Student (€101.54/month) for over-30s, GKV-exempt students and PhD candidates.

    Care College — Studienkolleg tariff (12–60 months)

    Premiums vary by entry age (under/over 30) and stay length (months 1–24 vs. month 25+). The standard Studienkolleg tariff:

    Care College
    Basic
    BestsellerComfort
    Premium
    Deductible / yr
    120,–
    Deductible / yr
    0,–
    Deductible / yr
    0,–
    Months 1–24 monthup to 29 yrs (€ / month) 27,50 34,– 48,–
    Months 1–24 monthfrom 30 yrs (€ / month) 33,50 50,– 75,–
    From 25th monthup to 29 yrs (€ / month) 49,50 57,– 73,–
    From 25th monthfrom 30 yrs (€ / month) 55,– 73,– 99,–

    All prices per month/person in euros. Deductible applies per insurance year. Maximum entry age 40. As of 2026.

    Care Student — GKV-equivalent (post-Studienkolleg)

    GKV-equivalent solution with M10 notification — relevant on the switch into university studies, mainly for students over 30, GKV-exempt students and PhD candidates:

    Care Student
    Health insurance
    for students
    Compulsory long-term care
    for students
    		 Total
    12–29 years 69,62 € / month 31,92 € / month 101,54 € / month
    30–39 years 95,68 € / month 31,92 € / month 127,60 € / month

    All prices per month/person in euros. Health insurance deductible: €300 per calendar year. Entry age 12–39, term up to 60 months. Premium guarantee for the full term. As of 2026.

    Note on the 12–29 age row: Care Student is technically open from age 12 per HanseMerkur terms — but in practice it is used by students over 30, GKV-exempt students and PhD candidates. Under-30s without exemption are normally statutorily insured (e.g. DAK-Gesundheit, from €135.52/month). Care Student only replaces the GKV after a valid exemption under § 8 SGB V.

    DAK-Gesundheit — three statutory student tariffs (post-Studienkolleg)

    All three GKV variants include automatic M10 notification to the university — they only take effect from immatriculation:

    Insured benefits
    DAK-Gesundheit
    BestsellerDAK + Garantietarif 120
    DAK + Fit & Travel
    up to age 23 €145.52 / month €145.52€135.52 / month €145.52 / month
    up to age 29, childless €150.65 / month €150.65€140.65 / month €150.65 / month
    up to age 29, with 1 child €145.52 / month €145.52€135.52 / month €145.52 / month
    Bonus / extra benefit — saves €120/year free for under 39

    Contribution incl. long-term care insurance (childless from age 23). Garantietarif 120: €120 contribution refund per year if no claims are filed. Fit & Travel: free for insured persons under 39. Entry age up to 29, term for the duration of studies (max. 14 specialist semesters / age 30). As of 2026.

    Sources: DAK-Gesundheit contribution statement 2025, Care Concept AG tariff tables 2024/25, HanseMerkur AVB. The exact price is calculated in the online application.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why can't I just take DAK-Studenten or Care Student during the Studienkolleg?

    Because a Studienkolleg is a preparatory institution, not yet immatriculation at a German university. The M10 electronic notification under § 199a SGB V only exists for enrolled university students, and mandatory GKV under § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 9 SGB V does not yet apply. DAK-Studenten and Care Student will therefore reject the application. The recognised tariff for the Studienkolleg phase is Care College (HanseMerkur) from €27.50/month for ages up to 29 and from €33.50/month for age 30+ (Basic months 1–24) — accepted by the embassy, the Ausländerbehörde and the Studienkolleg.

    Does my insurance need to cover Studienkolleg holidays as well?

    Yes. Care Concept Care College runs continuously for the whole contract period including all Studienkolleg holidays and the gap between the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) and the university semester start. A coverage gap can put your residence permit at risk — the Ausländerbehörde requires uninterrupted health insurance for the entire stay (§ 5 AufenthG). Care College from €27.50/month covers the full Studienkolleg phase up to 60 months without a break.

    When exactly do I switch from Care College to DAK or Care Student?

    On the day the university confirms the study place after a passed Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) — the date the immatriculation becomes effective. Care Concept can terminate the Care College contract for that exact day, and the new cover (DAK-Studenten ~€135.52/month with Garantietarif 120 if under 30, or Care Student €101.54/month if over 30 / GKV-exempt) starts the same day. The new insurer files the M10 electronic notification under § 199a SGB V automatically and the university completes the enrolment.