Getting started
For employeesPrivate or statutoryRequirements for employeesJahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze (JAEG)Career startersCosts
Costs for employeesEmployer contributionBeitragsbemessungsgrenze (BBG)Statutory maximum contributionOld age for employeesWorking part timeGetting started
For the self-employedPrivate or statutory when self-employedRequirements for the self-employedBest plans for the self-employedSwitching to private health insuranceIs private health insurance worth itCosts and protection
Costs for the self-employedDeductibleKrankentagegeldPremium relief planOld age for the self-employedWhich plan fits your self-employment?
Start the free analysis →Getting started
For civil servantsPrivate or statutoryRequirementsPublic sectorSwitching to private health insuranceBeihilfe
Beihilfe explainedRestkostentarifFreie HeilfürsorgeDienstherr (employer of civil servants)Beihilfe plans in the directoryDecision
Family and private health insuranceAdvice for familiesChildren in private health insuranceSpousesEmployer contributionWhat does private health insurance cost for your family?
Start the family check →Health questions
Health questionsDuty of disclosureRelease from confidentialityDuty to report later changesBreach of obligationsPre-existing conditions
With a pre-existing conditionChronic conditionsRisk surchargeBenefit exclusionPsychotherapyApplication and acceptance
Anonymous risk enquiryApplicationAcceptance of the applicationApplication rejectedObligation to accept and BasistarifUnsure because of a pre-existing condition?
Start the anonymous check →Lower your premium
PolicyholdersPlan optimizationPlan change under § 204Right to change planDeducting premiums from taxPremium increase
Premium increasesPremium stabilityPremiums in old ageAgeing reservesSpecial right of cancellationBenefits and contract
BenefitsClaimCancelling your policyBack to statutory insuranceTerminated without noticeWhen you start your career, a lot is decided for your future. We show when private health insurance pays off early and how you secure a low age at entry.
Fairly and well insured 
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A switch to private health insurance needs careful thought. The most important points before you decide.
A neutral comparison of the two insurance systems for career starters.
| Criterion | Statutory | Private |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | Depends only on gross income up to the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze BBG · BeitragsbemessungsgrenzeThe contribution ceiling of statutory health and long-term care insurance. Income above this amount is not used to calculate contributions.More about BBG →. | Calculated from health status, age at entry and scope of benefits, especially low when you start early. |
| Family | Spouses without income and children are covered free of charge. | Each person needs their own contract and pays their own premium. |
| Benefits | Care defined by law at a sufficient, appropriate and economical level. | A contract you can design individually, with guaranteed and often broader benefits. |
| Access | Often longer waiting times for appointments, and usually through the referral system. | Preferred appointments and direct access to medical specialists. |
Real situations that show how individual the right solution is.
Privately insured directly after university, with a permanently low premium secured through the young age at entry.
With holiday pay and Christmas bonus, the income threshold was safely exceeded and the switch was made.
Without a pre-existing condition, full benefits without a risk surcharge.
Thanks to the early age at entry, private health insurance often costs career starters less than people who switch later. Solid plans cost about €280 to €480 per month, and the employer pays half of this, up to the maximum employer contribution. The early start pays off over the years through higher ageing reserves.
In statutory health insurance, the maximum rate for 2026 is €1,226.44 including Zusatzbeitrag ZusatzbeitragThe additional contribution each statutory health insurance fund charges on top of the general rate. Its level differs from fund to fund.More about Zusatzbeitrag → and long-term care insurance (around €1,017 without long-term care insurance). The employer pays half of it. In private health insurance, there are good plans for young career starters from around €280 per month. Here, too, the employer pays half up to the maximum employer contribution, so many pay less than €200 as their own share.
In the long term, you should expect rising premiums. From 2006 to 2026, premiums in private health insurance rose by an average of 3.4% per year according to the association of private health insurers, and in statutory health insurance by 3.9%. If you start early, you build up reserves over many years that dampen the premiums. This is why we pay special attention to premium stability.
An early start in particular leads to high ageing reserves, which noticeably cushion the premium in old age. The statutory premium surcharge of 10% ends from age 60, and Krankentagegeld ends when your pension starts. A premium relief plan lowers the premium in retirement even further.
As a career starter, a suitable plan with a moderate deductible keeps the premium low. Later, an internal plan change under § 204 VVG lowers the premium without changing insurer and without losing your ageing reserves.
| Parameter | Current status (statutory) | Target status (private) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | around €1,017 | €380 | −€637 |
| Employer contribution | around €508 | €190 | −€318 |
| Own share, gross | around €508 | €190 | −€318 |
| Total annual costs (own share) | around €6,100 | €2,280 | −€3,820 |
Sample calculation based on average plans. Individual factors such as age at entry, health status and choice of plan affect the result.
A selection of strong plans for employees and the self-employed, suitable for the start of your career.
Uni-TopIprivat 300
GUK500
MB0
Exklusiv-SI
GSP70, GSUP90, GSZ90
K600
KVS3, EKV2, PSV
PremiumMed PMN0
Our rating for each plan on a scale from 1 to 10. We deliberately show no monthly premiums, because the premium depends on age, health and scope of benefits.
Popular benefit modules you can choose in your private health insurance.
Private health insurance should cover at least 80% of high costs for dental treatment, crowns, implants and other dentures.
Often a cost driver: how important are these benefits to you? This is a personal decision.
Private health insurance should reimburse the important preventive check-ups without restrictions.
Continued payment of wages ends after six weeks. Krankentagegeld from the 43rd day belongs in your planning from the start.
A premium relief plan taken out early lowers the premium in retirement in a targeted way and costs little when you are young.
Private health insurance should pay for medically necessary aids such as hearing aids, bandages or orthopedic insoles.
Single or two-bed room and optional medical benefits, depending on the comfort you want in hospital.
We compare the entire market and find the plan with the best balance of benefits and stable premiums.
We show you what you should know before switching to private health insurance.
As an employee, your gross income must be above the Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze . In 2026, this is €77,400 per year. Special payments such as holiday pay and Christmas bonus count.
With a young age at entry, you secure a low premium and build up ageing reserves over many years. In addition, most career starters are healthy and get terms without a risk surcharge.
Then compulsory statutory insurance can apply again. From age 55, a return is severely restricted. We plan your cover so that such changes are taken into account.
Get all your questions answered, free of charge and without obligation.
Personal advice from our specialists. Response time: under 24 hours.
From the age of 55, admission to private health insurance is often possible only with restrictions. A late switch can also mean higher premiums.
It matters to us that a switch pays off for you in the long run. That is why we do not recommend a consultation when your answers already show that the conditions are rather unfavorable.
Not sure, or want to correct your answers? Feel free to contact us. We will help you assess your situation.
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