Health insurance, broadcasting fee
Health insurance
Students under the age of 30 are generally subject to compulsory health insurance (Krankenversicherung) and long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung). The university therefore requires a certificate of your health insurance before you enrol. We have summarised the most common cases for you below:
Family insurance
If your parents both have statutory health insurance and you are under 25 years old, you are covered by your parents’ family insurance. However, you must not earn more than €505 per month (€538 in the case of a mini-job) if you want to remain a member of the family insurance. If you have completed a recognised voluntary service (Freiwilligendienst, e.g. FSJ, FÖJ, voluntary military service, etc.), the insurance period can be extended by the same period beyond your 25th birthday, but by a maximum of 12 months.
Student health insurance
If you can no longer be insured through your family, but are still subject to compulsory insurance, you are covered by student health insurance until the age of 30). The contribution is the same for all statutory health insurance companies and is calculated according to the maximum BAföG rate. It is currently €87.38 per month. In addition, there is the supplementary contribution, which each health insurance fund can set individually (partly depending on income). You also have to pay the contribution to long-term care insurance, which is currently €29.07 (up to 23 years without a child) or €34.20 (from 23 years without a child) per month (this amount is reduced if you have children). As a BAföG recipient, you will receive a health and long-term care insurance supplement of up to €137.
Private health insurance
If one of your parents is privately insured and has a higher income (monthly more than 1/12 of the annual income threshold and higher than the total income of the other parent), you can be exempted from compulsory insurance within the first three months of your studies in order to take out private insurance. This can be particularly interesting if one of your parents is a civil servant and entitled to benefits, as you can then also benefit from the benefits (but only as long as you receive child benefit, i.e. usually up to 25). However, this exemption applies for the duration of your studies and possibly even beyond! This means that you will have to take out private insurance for the duration of the exemption (even if you are no longer eligible for the allowance at 25). The only way to cancel this exemption is currently in the period between your Bachelor’s and Master’s degree – but only as long as you are not enrolled for more than one month. The decision to be exempted should therefore be carefully considered. If you decide against private health insurance, you will have to insure yourself.
Voluntary insurance
If you cannot (or can no longer) be covered by student insurance, e.g. because you are older than 30, you can take out voluntary statutory health insurance. The contribution is then based on your income. If you are over 30 and receive BAföG at the same time, you can receive up to €233 per month as a subsidy. For further details, please contact your health insurance provider.
International students
For international students, information is available directly from Göttingen International.
If you have any questions about student health insurance, we recommend seeking advice from the health insurance provider of your choice – various providers such as AOK have their own contact points for students, and TK even has its own office on campus. Information is also available from the Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre), for example.
BROADCASTING FEE
New in Göttingen and forgot to register for the broadcasting fee in all the moving chaos? Don’t worry – here’s everything you need to know!
What is the broadcasting fee?
The broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) funds public broadcasting services in Germany, including ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio. It ensures that radio, television, and online content are available to everyone.
How much is the broadcasting fee?
The monthly broadcasting fee is €18.36. If you prefer to pay less often, you can choose to pay €55.08 every three months, €110.16 every six months, or €220.32 annually.
Who needs to pay?
In every apartment, whether it’s a shared flat or a single household, one person must be registered to pay the fee. In shared flats, you can split the cost among yourselves, but officially, one person takes responsibility for the full amount. If this person moves out, another roommate must take over the registration.
If you receive BAföG, you can apply for an exemption from the broadcasting fee. However, this exemption only applies to you and not to your roommates. The entire household is only exempt if everyone in the flat receives BAföG or similar social benefits. An important exception: If you have a spouse or registered partner living with you, they are also covered by your exemption.
There are a few more reasons for being exempted from having to pay the fee. You can find the application here and official information in English here.
What if I’m studying abroad?
If you’re studying abroad for a semester and your apartment in Göttingen is empty while you’re away, you can pause your broadcasting fee payments. You’ll need to provide proof that the apartment is vacant or fully sublet. If your roommates are still living in the flat, they will need to continue paying the fee.
What should I do if I move?
If you’re moving within Göttingen or to another city, make sure to notify the broadcasting service of your new address. Your personal account number will stay the same and “move” with you. If you move into a flat where the fee is already being paid (for example, by a roommate), you can cancel your old account.
How can I pay?
You have several convenient payment options:
- Direct debit: The easiest and safest way to ensure you never miss a payment.
- Bank transfer: You can manually transfer the fee, either monthly or in larger installments (e.g., quarterly or annually).
- Online management: You can manage your payment options and account easily online on the broadcasting service’s website.
Helpful links:
- Find all the official information for students and apply for an exemption on the broadcasting service website.
- Get additional advice and tips from the Consumer Advice Center.
Note: We make every effort to ensure that the information is always up to date, complete and correct. Nevertheless, in case of doubt, the information cannot replace advice from the respective contact person.