Private Health Insurance (PKV)

Going private is a lifetime decision. We treat it that way.

Better benefits, shorter waiting times, stable premiums? Private health insurance can deliver – for the right people, in the right tariff. We run the honest numbers, including premiums at 65. And we tell you plainly when the public system (GKV) is the better fit.

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Non-tied market comparison Premium projection into old age Visa-compliant solutions

The honest question

Who should go private – and who shouldn't?

Strong candidates

Where PKV plays its strengths.

High-earning employees above the compulsory insurance threshold (2026: €77,400/year) with stable long-term income
Freelancers and self-employed, who pay near the GKV maximum without an employer subsidy
Civil servants (Beamte), where state aid (Beihilfe) makes PKV clearly superior
Young, healthy professionals who plan the old-age premium question from day one

Honest counter-indications

Where we often recommend staying public.

(Planned) single-earner families: children are covered free in GKV, but pay separately in PKV
Fluctuating income without reserves – PKV premiums don't pause in slow months
Relevant pre-existing conditions leading to heavy surcharges or exclusions
Short-term savings as the main motive – it almost always backfires in later decades

For internationals

Health insurance and your German residence permit.

For visa and residence purposes, Germany requires adequate health coverage. We navigate the specifics with you:

Employees are usually enrolled in GKV automatically below the income threshold – above it, the PKV choice opens up.
Freelance visa holders must prove comprehensive cover; long-term, substitutive PKV (not travel insurance!) is what authorities and settlement permits expect.
Incoming employees of foreign companies and researchers have special options we check case by case.
Expat plans & incoming tariffs are bridges, not homes: we plan the route into proper German cover early.

Describe your situation

Already privately insured?

Switch tariffs, not insurers.

Long-time PKV members often overpay in outdated tariffs. Under Sec. 204 VVG you have a legal right to move into comparable tariffs within your insurer – keeping your accumulated ageing reserves.

We analyse your current tariff, compare the internal alternatives and manage the switch. Typical outcome: equal or better benefits at a noticeably lower premium.

Common questions

PKV facts, without the sales pitch.

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When am I allowed to switch to private health insurance?

Employees need regular annual earnings above the compulsory threshold (2026: €77,400). Self-employed, freelancers and civil servants can choose PKV regardless of income.

Do PKV premiums explode in old age?

Premiums rise in both systems – driven by medical inflation and demographics. PKV has counterweights: ageing reserves, the statutory 10% surcharge, premium-relief components and dropping certain modules at retirement. We project your realistic curve before you decide, not after.

Can I return to the public system later?

Only under narrow conditions – e.g. employment below the threshold before age 55. From 55 onward, returning is practically impossible. That is exactly why we treat PKV as a lifetime decision rather than a savings trick.

What if I leave Germany permanently?

PKV contracts can usually be converted to a dormant state (Anwartschaft) that preserves your health rating and ageing reserves for a return, or terminated per the policy terms. We build your exit scenarios into the tariff choice up front.

I just want to optimise my public insurance – do you help with that?

Yes. Switching between public funds is simple and can save several hundred euros a year via the supplemental contribution rate – see our guide: How to save on German public health insurance. We also advise on useful add-on policies (dental, hospital).

Facts over gut feeling

Have your situation properly calculated – once.

GKV vs. PKV with real numbers, the premium curve and a clear recommendation – free of charge.

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