Reviewed by our Expat experts
Last reviewed: March 2026
How to Switch to Private Health Insurance
A step-by-step guide to switching from public (GKV) to private (PKV) health insurance in Germany.
Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility
Confirm that your gross annual income exceeds the threshold of €77,400 (2026) or that you're self-employed. If you're an employee, your income must have exceeded the threshold for the previous calendar year before you can switch.
Step 2: Compare Plans
There are over 40 private health insurers in Germany, each offering multiple plan tiers. Key factors to compare:
- Monthly premium — varies by age, health, and coverage level
- Deductible (Selbstbehalt) — higher deductible = lower premium
- Hospital coverage — private room, chief physician
- Dental coverage — percentage covered, orthodontics
- Outpatient coverage — specialists, alternative medicine
- International coverage — important for expats who travel
- Aging provisions (Altersrückstellungen) — crucial for long-term stability
Why Use a Broker?
An independent insurance broker (Versicherungsmakler) compares plans across all insurers at no cost to you — their commission is paid by the insurer. This ensures you get unbiased advice without paying more.
Step 3: Health Assessment
You'll need to complete a health questionnaire (Gesundheitsfragen) covering your medical history. Be thorough and honest — undisclosed conditions can void your policy later. Common questions cover:
- Current and past medical conditions
- Medications you take regularly
- Hospital stays in the past 5-10 years
- Planned medical treatments
- Psychological or psychiatric treatments
Step 4: Apply and Get Accepted
Once you've chosen a plan, the insurer reviews your health questionnaire. They may accept you at standard rates, apply a surcharge (Risikozuschlag) for pre-existing conditions, or exclude certain conditions. Processing typically takes 1-2 weeks.
Step 5: Cancel Your GKV (if applicable)
If you're currently in public insurance, you need to formally cancel your GKV membership. Key rules:
- Provide written cancellation to your GKV insurer
- Notice period is typically 2 months to the end of the month
- You'll receive a confirmation of cancellation (Kündigungsbestätigung)
- Your new PKV coverage must start seamlessly — no gap in coverage
Step 6: Notify Your Employer
Inform your HR department about the switch. They need to:
- Stop deducting GKV contributions from your salary
- Start paying the employer PKV subsidy (Arbeitgeberzuschuss)
- You'll provide them with proof of PKV coverage
Timeline
The entire process typically takes 4-8 weeks from initial consultation to active coverage. If you're new to Germany, it can be faster since you don't need to cancel existing GKV.
Documents You'll Need
- Valid passport or ID
- Employment contract showing salary
- Recent pay slips (last 3 months)
- Registration certificate (Anmeldung)
- Current GKV membership details (if switching)
- Medical records (if available in English or German)