Private Health Insurance (PKV)
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Deciding to get PKV
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PKV coverage checklist
Free checklist of services your private insurance should cover.
PKV tariff change letter
Sample letter you can use to change your private health insurance plan.
Contract termination letter
Sample letter you can use to cancel your private health insurance contract.
Best private health insurance
- Insurance service provider with customer support in English
- Can apply for health insurance online
- Get a free consultation in English
- Compare offers and prices.
- Comparison calculator to find suitable private health insurance policies.
- Compare the insurance providers and their ratings.
What is private health insurance?
As the name suggests, private companies offer private health insurance. The German government regulates private insurers but doesn’t have as much control as it does on public health insurance.
56% of the employed eligible to get private insurance are insured under voluntary public insurance. And the rest, 44% has private health insurance. 41% of the self-employed in Germany are insured under private health insurance.
IS private health insurance WORTH it?
Many insurance brokers and agents sell you the dream of saving hundreds of euros monthly with private health insurance. It’s not entirely false.
However, taking private insurance without considering all the factors can be expensive. So, educate yourself before getting private insurance.
Explore the parameters you must consider before getting private health insurance.
Public vs private health insurance
Health insurance is compulsory for everyone in Germany. You can choose between public and private health insurance.
But which is better: public or private? Learn the differences between the two health systems to understand.
THINGS private insurance SHOULD COVER
Before you get private insurance, you must know what good insurance in Germany should cover.
Taking private health insurance is a lifelong decision. Thus, understand the essential services your insurance policy should offer.
Private health insurance COSTS
Good private health insurance costs between
- 466 € and 683 € per month to self-employed
- 301 € and 355 € per month to employees (after deducting the employer’s contribution)
- 288 € and 400 € per month to civil servants
Learn more about how private health insurance costs vary and develop over time.
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION to private health insurance
Every employee in Germany is eligible for employer subsidy if they have a fully-fledged private health insurance policy. Employers don’t contribute to supplementary health insurance.
The employer contributes 8.15% of your gross monthly salary to private insurance. However, the subsidy is capped at 422 € as of 2024.
Private health insurance for
Self-Employed
As self-employed people must pay the whole health insurance premium themselves, they can save a lot with private insurance.
Students
Students must choose their health insurance before starting their studies. They cannot change from private to public during the studies.
Unemployed
Learn what happens to private health insurance during a job loss. You are compulsorily insured under public insurance.
Children
Children can get public or private health insurance depending on their parent’s health insurance.
DEDUCT private health insurance costs from TAXES
You can deduct your private health contributions from taxes. However, only the contributions related to basic health services are considered for tax purposes.
You can also deduct medical expenses not covered in your health insurance from taxes as extraordinary expenses.
CHANGE private health insurance plan
Everyone insured with private health insurance can change their insurance policy. Your insurance provider is legally obliged to offer tariff change advice free of charge.
However, we don’t recommend changing private insurance providers as you lose most of your retirement provisions.
Know your rights about changing private health insurance plans in Germany.
REDUCE THE COST of private health insurance
You can reduce your private health insurance costs if you can’t afford them anymore.
One of the most common ways is to change your private health insurance plan. Moreover, you don’t necessarily have to opt for a plan with fewer services to reduce costs.
Explore how to reduce your private health insurance costs without compromising the services.
CANCEL private health insurance
You can cancel your private health insurance policy by giving three months’ notice before the end of the “insurance year.” Depending on your situation, you can even cancel the contract without notice.
You must provide proof of the new health insurance to your existing insurer. Without the proof, your insurer cannot cancel the insurance policy.
Learn how to cancel your private health insurance contract correctly in Germany.
RETURN to public health insurance
Returning to public health insurance is difficult. And it’s almost impossible for people 55 and above to switch from private to public insurance.
However, there are certain situations in which you can return to public health insurance. Learn them now.
Advice on insurance brokers and agents
- Always get the insurance broker’s or agent’s advice in writing. It will act as proof if you feel cheated by the broker and want to take the matter to court.
- There are many insurance brokers on Facebook answering questions. They usually share incomplete information with an intent to sell. So, never make a decision based on that information.
- You must read guides on multiple websites before making a decision. The insurance industry is dynamic and changes quite frequently. Sometimes, a website couldn’t update the guide on time. Thus, reading on multiple sites ensures you get the latest and correct information.
- Here are the websites we recommend
- Finanztip 🇩🇪
- Verbraucherzentrale 🇩🇪
- Stiftung Warentest 🇩🇪
- Official German government websites like Bundesgesundheitsministerium, Destatis, etc. 🇩🇪
- make-it-in-germany 🇺🇸
- Handbookgermany 🇺🇸
- GermanPedia 🇺🇸