After you graduate in Germany, Public health insurance (GKV) for students ends when you complete your studies or turn 30, whichever comes first, and you can continue as a voluntary member at a different premium. Different rules apply if you used a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or held Expat health insurance, including a 5-year limit on Expat health insurance set against the 18-month job-seeking visa. We recommend staying on Public health insurance where possible, because switching to Private health insurance (PKV) or Expat health insurance removes you from the public system and returning is difficult. In some cases, the Job Center covers your health insurance costs if you worked and earned above the required threshold before graduating.

Public health insurance (GKV) for students ends when you complete your studies or when you turn 30, whichever comes first. After that, you can continue your coverage as a voluntary member of Public health insurance. The premium for voluntary membership is different from the student rate, and if you have no income it is around €260 per month. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.

If you opted out of Public health insurance as a student and used your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) during your studies, you can generally keep using the EHIC for at least another 6 months while you look for a job. To use this option, register as a job seeker at the Job Center. Registering does not entitle you to job benefits, but it does let you stay insured on your EHIC during your job search.

Expat health insurance is most likely limited to 5 years. As long as you are still within that 5-year period, Expat health insurance generally meets the requirements for a job-seeking visa. Keep in mind that the job-seeking visa after your studies is 18 months, so if your Expat health insurance expires before the visa ends, it is almost impossible to keep using it for that visa.

We recommend staying on Public health insurance (GKV) after graduating whenever possible. If you switch from Public health insurance to Private health insurance (PKV) or to Expat health insurance, you are removed from the public health system, and it can be very difficult to get back in. For that reason, think carefully about whether a private option is right for you before switching. If you do opt out and later want to return, you can generally rejoin Public health insurance only once you have a work contract paying more than €603 per month, which makes membership in the public health system compulsory.

If you work during your final year of studies for at least a year, earn more than €603 per month, and have a regular work contract with your employer, you may be able to register for unemployment benefits. In that case, the Job Center would cover the cost of your health insurance for a set period. This does not apply to working-student contracts or mini-jobs. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.