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 noticeAs a freelancer, you have free access to private health insurance. We show you how to cover your premium, your benefits and your loss of income in a sensible way.
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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 freelancers.
| Criterion | Statutory | Private |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | Voluntary members pay according to 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 → and often reach the maximum contribution quickly. | Calculated from health status, age at entry and scope of benefits, regardless of income. |
| 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.
Healthy, switched with a low starting premium to a plan with strong benefits, independent of later income.
The private health insurance premium stayed stable, while the former voluntary contribution would have risen with it.
The allowance from the artists' social insurance fund noticeably lowered the own share of the private health insurance premium.
For freelancers, the cost of private health insurance does not depend on income. It depends mainly on age at entry, health status, the level of benefits you want, the deductible and Krankentagegeld . Simple plans can start at around €300 per month. For strong cover, freelancers should realistically plan for a higher premium. In many cases, Krankentagegeld comes on top, because no employer keeps paying your income during a longer illness.
Voluntary members of statutory health insurance pay according to income. With a higher income, they quickly reach the maximum contribution of up to €1,261.32 per month including long-term care insurance, with no employer contribution. In private health insurance, solid plans start at around €500 per month. Krankentagegeld is calculated on top.
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%. Since no employer cushions the premium, a solid calculation matters. This is why we pay special attention to premium stability.
The premium is calculated regardless of income, also in old age. Ageing reserves cushion the premiums, and the statutory surcharge of 10% ends from age 60. With a premium relief plan, you lower your premium in retirement in a targeted way.
A deductible suits freelancers with savings and lowers the premium. An internal plan change under § 204 VVG often saves money without changing insurer and without losing your ageing reserves. Freelancers in artistic work should also check the allowance from the artists' social insurance fund.
| Parameter | Current status (voluntary statutory) | Target status (private) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | €1,017.19 | €520 | −€497 |
| Employer contribution | none | none | same |
| Own share, gross | €1,017.19 | €520 | −€497 |
| Total annual costs | around €12,200 | €6,240 | −€5,960 |
Sample calculation based on average plans. The voluntary statutory contribution depends on income. Individual factors such as health status and choice of plan affect the result.
Selected plans for freelancers, with a focus on benefits, stable premiums and cover in case of illness.
GUK500
GSP70, GSUP90, GSZ90
K600
KVS3, EKV2, PSV
NK.select S Bonus
Komfort-SI
ActiveMe-U, Komfort Zahn-U
Comfort-U, SP2
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.
Physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy should be reimbursed without tight benefit limits. With a fluctuating income, every quick recovery counts.
Good plans reimburse doctors' fees even above the standard maximum rates of the fee schedule. Otherwise you pay the remaining costs yourself.
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.
Yes. Freelancers have free access to private health insurance, regardless of income. There is no Versicherungspflichtgrenze for you as there is for employees.
Usually not. One exception are freelancers in artistic and journalistic work, who can receive an allowance through the artists' social insurance fund, similar to an employer contribution. You can also claim the premiums for tax purposes.
Without an employer, there is no continued payment of wages during illness. Krankentagegeld replaces your lost income from an agreed day and secures your living costs during a longer illness.
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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