What you’ll find here:
- My signup story and what it cost me each month
- Real visits I had: doctor, dentist, ankle sprain, and a trip abroad
- What worked great vs. what made me grumble
- Simple tips I wish I knew sooner
First things first: did AOK work for me?
Short answer: yes. I studied in Munich and used AOK Bayern for two years. It covered my doctor visits, meds, and a couple small scares. It wasn’t fancy. It was steady. And when you’re new in Germany, that steady feeling matters. If you’d like even more nitty-gritty details, you can skim my longer, plain, honest review of AOK health insurance as an international student over on ASQH. For a broader snapshot of benefits, costs, and how AOK compares to other public insurers, check out the English-language overview on Health-Insurance-in-Germany.
Signing up felt messy for a day… then easy
I walked into an AOK branch with my passport, admission letter, and a German bank account (IBAN). The lady at the desk spoke basic English. I spoke very basic German. We made it work. She printed a “Versicherungsbescheinigung” for my university and sent the digital notice (the M10) straight to the uni. That was key for enrollment.
- My card arrived about two weeks later.
- They pulled the fee by SEPA each month.
- My rate was about €125–€130 per month as a student. It changed a bit with the extra contribution.
- When I turned 23, they added a small extra for nursing care because I don’t have kids. Not huge, but it’s there.
- Each semester they asked for my student certificate. I uploaded it in the app. If I forgot, I got a letter. Very German.
By the way, if you’re over 30, you won’t get the student rate. I had friends who had to switch or pay more.
Real visit #1: Ear infection on a rainy Tuesday
I woke up with a sharp, throbbing ear. Classic. I went to a nearby GP (Hausarzt). I handed over my AOK card. No fee at check-in. The doctor looked, said it was inflamed, and gave me a script. At the pharmacy, I paid €5 for the antibiotic. That was it. Pain gone in three days. I kept the box just in case I needed the name later. You know what? That little €5 felt like magic.
Real visit #2: A filling and a not-so-fun surprise
The dentist did a checkup and said I needed a small filling. Basic stuff was covered. No bill there. But I asked for a professional cleaning too, and that wasn’t covered. That cost me about €80. Not the end of the world, but it stung a bit. Germany covers the basics for teeth, not the shiny extras.
Real visit #3: Sprained ankle from a clumsy soccer slide
Weekend game. Wet turf. I slipped. My ankle blew up like a balloon. I booked an orthopedist for the next day. He did an X-ray. No break, thank goodness. He wrote a script for physio. With AOK, I paid a small co-pay: €10 per prescription plus about 10% of the physio cost. Crutches had a tiny co-pay too (around €5). The rest was covered. I was back to jogging in three weeks—slowly, but still.
Real visit #4: Food poisoning in Italy, and that blue card saved me
On the back of my AOK card, there’s the EHIC bit. I used it in Italy after a very bad pasta night. The clinic accepted it. No big bill later. I did pay a few euros for electrolytes, but that was it. Travel within the EU felt safer after that.
Bonus note: Mental health
Campus counseling set me up with two trial sessions. Those were covered without weird forms. For long-term therapy, the wait list was long. That’s not just AOK. It’s kind of how it is here. Be ready to call a few clinics. (If you’re curious how student insurance handles therapy stateside, I kept a role-play review of my year using UCSD’s student health insurance, UC SHIP that breaks down the process.)
The app experience
I used the AOK app to:
- Upload my student papers each semester
- See letters
- Check my details
The app worked fine. Not fancy. Some screens were only in German, and the translations felt… stiff. But it did the job. Later, e-prescriptions started rolling out. AOK worked with that too, which was nice. Less paper, fewer stamps.
What I liked
- Reliable coverage: GP, specialists, hospital, basic dental—no drama
- Easy uni enrollment: they sent the M10 straight to my school
- Predictable costs: most meds were €5–€10
- EU travel: EHIC on the card made trips less scary
- Real people in branches: I brought my bad German; they brought patience
What bugged me
- English support varies: some days great, some days… bring Google Translate
- Wait times: orthopedist and dentist appointments took a bit
- Dental extras: cleanings and premium materials cost extra
- Paper letters: even with the app, I still got snail mail reminders
- If you forget the student proof each semester, they nag—and then they charge the higher rate
Who I think AOK fits
- Students who want simple, public insurance that the uni accepts right away
- Folks who don’t mind basic German at times
- People staying longer than a semester and want steady coverage, not a complicated private plan
By the way, staying healthy is only half the battle when you move abroad—you’ll also want to build a social life that goes beyond the campus bubble. If you’re curious about fun, low-key spots where newcomers are actually meeting friendly locals (including slightly older women who know the city like the back of their hand), this rundown of the best places to meet local MILFs in 2025 shares cafés, events, and dating apps that have a solid reputation for being both safe and welcoming—handy inspiration for after-class hangs and expanding your circle beyond the usual Erasmus crowd.
Speaking of expanding horizons, if your travels take you all the way to Southern California and you find yourself curious about the local dating scene around L.A.’s airport corridor, you might appreciate the no-nonsense listings on ListCrawler Hawthorne, where you can browse up-to-date profiles, check real-time availability, and sift through verified reviews before deciding whether to reach out—saving you time (and awkward guesswork) while you’re jet-lagged.
Tiny tips that saved me time
- Keep a photo of your AOK card on your phone
- Book specialist visits early; ask your GP for a referral if you hit a wall
- Save €20–€30 each month for small co-pays and dental extras
- Upload your student certificate the week you get it
- For travel outside Germany, check vaccines. My tetanus booster was covered; my Hep A shot was not
My verdict
AOK for international students is steady, simple, and good value for basic care. It won’t spoil you with fancy extras, but it will have your back when you’re sick, hurt, or far from home.
I’d give it 4 out of 5. I felt looked after. And honestly, as a student, that’s what I needed. If you want to peek at how thousands of other members rate their experience, scroll through the reviews on Trustpilot and see if their stories match mine.