Private Health Insurance in Germany (Private Krankenversicherung)

In Germany, you have the choice between 2 types of health insurance. The statutory health insurance and the private health insurance. Only 10% of people living in Germany are entitled to join the second option, the private health insurance.

Who is entitled to join private health insurance? (Private Krankenversicherung – PKV)

If one of the following 4 criteria applies to you, you have the option of switching to private health insurance.

• You earn more than €64.350 per year
• You are a freelancer or run your own business
• You are a civil servant
• You are a foreign student

Advantages of private health insurance in Germany

In the statutory insurance, you have a standard coverage and pay a flat rate of 14.9 % in 2023 (employee + employer together) of your gross salary for the insurance.

With private health insurance, you are free to choose the extent of your coverage and pay a premium depending on your age and health status.

The interesting thing is that in most cases, private health insurance pays a much lower premium than statutory health insurance, despite the significantly better benefits.

Why is that?

In the statutory health insurance, everyone is accepted, including the old and the sick.

In private health insurance, on the other hand, a health check is made beforehand, which means that only the „good“ risks get insured.

Advantages of private health insurance:

• No waiting
  You get up to 10x faster appointments for specialists
  Why? Doctors can charge up to 3.5 and more times the rate for the same services when you have private insurance.
• More and better doctors
  Access to doctors who only accept private patients
• Better medication
  Prescription of the best medications or therapies with no co-pay (depending on plan)
• Alternative Practitioners
  Coverage of the costs for alternative practitioners
• Dental treatment
  Dental treatment and dentures, including professional teeth cleaning (up to 100%)
• Cures
  Cures and stays at health spas

Disadvantages of private health insurance in Germany

Even if private health insurance has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages.

• Difficult to impossible to switch back to statutory health insurance from the age of 55.
• Contributions can increase significantly with age.
• No free co-insurance for family members.
• If you have serious previous illnesses, you will probably not be accepted or only with a surcharge.

German private health insurance companies

The following gives you a small overview of German health insurance companies. We can offer almost all providers available in Germany and provide you with a comprehensive comparison.

How is the premium calculated?

The amount you pay for your PKV depends on the following:

• Your occupation
• Your age
• Your pre-existing medical conditions (you may have to submit to a medical examination)
• The healthcare plan you choose
• Your voluntary excess (Selbstbeteiligung)

The average premium is around 350 – 650 euros per month (significantly less for students). If you are an employee, your employer pays half of your contribution. Self-employed people and freelancers must pay the entire contribution themselves.

Cost of private health insurance in Germany

Note: Even the Basic Coverage covers significantly more than public health insurance.

Statutory health insurance

Income: €64.350 / year
Age: 35
Premium: €64.350 * 14.9 % / 12 = €799 a month

Private health insurance

Income: €64.350 / year
Age: 35
Premium:
Top Coverage: ~ €500 a month
Standard Coverage: ~€425 a month
Basic Coverage: ~ €350 a month