Studying and working part-time

Do you want to work during your studies to earn some extra money or gain practical experience? This may affect your type of health insurance and contributions may become due. If you are under 25 years old and earn less than €603 per month, you can generally remain insured free of charge through your family insurance. An exception applies to mandatory internships required by your study regulations. Here you will find an overview of different types of jobs and how they affect your health insurance.

If you are enrolled at a university and have a permanent job earning more than €603 per month, this is considered a working student job. In health and long term care insurance, a distinction is made between whether your studies or your employment take priority.

If you work more than 20 hours per week, your employer registers you for health and long term care insurance. In this case, you are legally considered an employee rather than primarily a student. An exception applies if you work during lecture free periods, for example in the evenings or during semester breaks.

If you only work during lecture free periods or fewer than 20 hours per week, your working student job does not trigger mandatory health and long term care insurance. In most cases, you are then insured through the affordable student deal, as income from working student jobs often exceeds the permissible income limit for free family insurance of €603 per month.

If you have a working student job, you earn pension credits. As a rule, you and your employer each pay half of the pension insurance contributions. If your monthly income is up to €2,000, you pay a reduced contribution share.

Jobs with less than €603 per month do not lead to mandatory insurance. They do not affect your existing health insurance. If you have several mini jobs at the same time, the incomes are added together. If your total income remains below €603 per month, your insurance remains unchanged, for example through free family insurance or the affordable Studi-Deal.

Do you have a job that is limited from the outset to a maximum of three months or 70 working days? In this case, it does not lead to mandatory insurance. You remain insured as before, for example through free family insurance or the affordable student deal.

If you have several short term jobs within one year, these are added together. In total, they may not exceed three months or 70 working days. If the overall duration is longer, your fixed term job will also trigger mandatory insurance as an employee. In this case, your employer registers you for health and long term care insurance. You pay half of the contributions if your monthly income exceeds €325. The contributions are calculated as a percentage of your salary.

An internship receives special insurance treatment only if it is required as part of your studies. This must therefore be a mandatory internship.

A voluntary internship is assessed in the same way as the other jobs described here. For a mandatory internship, a distinction is made between a pre or post study internship and an internship during your studies.

For a pre or post study internship, the key factor is whether you receive a salary. If this is not the case, you remain insured as before, for example through free family insurance or the affordable student deal. If you receive a salary during a pre or post study internship, you are subject to mandatory insurance as an employee. Your employer registers you for health and long term care insurance. You pay half of the contributions if your monthly income exceeds €325. The contributions are calculated as a percentage of your salary.

In the case of a mandatory internship during your studies, no mandatory insurance arises through the employer. Depending on the duration and the salary paid, you may even remain insured through free family insurance. Alternatively, you can take out coverage through the affordable Studi-Deal.

We are happy to advise you on all questions regarding your insurance and your contributions. You can reach us free of charge Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at:

0800 072 572 580 00