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As a self-employed lawyer, you can switch to private health insurance regardless of your income. An income threshold as for employees does not apply to you.
Private health insurance for lawyers
As a lawyer or legal professional, you have free access to private health insurance. We show you how to cover your premium, your benefits and your income.
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Important tips for lawyers
A switch to private health insurance needs careful thought. The most important points before you decide.
Comparison: statutory or private insurance for lawyers?
A neutral comparison of the two insurance systems for lawyers.
| 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 revenue. |
| 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. |
| Contributions in old age | Because of the pension from the Versorgungswerk , usually classed as a voluntary member, so contributions are due on all types of income. | The premium does not depend on your income. |
Real cases from our advice
Real situations that show how individual the right solution is.
Own law firm at 34
Switched with a low starting premium to a plan with strong benefits, independent of later revenue.
From in-house counsel to self-employment
The private cover continued without a gap. Only the employer contribution ended, as planned.
A longer absence
Krankentagegeld KrankentagegeldPrivate sick pay: a daily allowance from private insurance while you are unable to work. It replaces lost income from an agreed day of illness.More about Krankentagegeld → from day 15 covered the running costs of the law firm and living costs during an illness.
Versorgungswerk: disadvantages in old age in statutory health insurance
The Versorgungswerk plays a key role in the life of a lawyer. As a special institution for the liberal professions, it makes sure that its members are well provided for in old age. When it comes to health insurance contributions in retirement, however, membership has a major disadvantage.
In retirement, you can be a member of statutory health insurance either as a voluntary member or as a compulsory member of the Krankenversicherung der Rentner KVdR · Krankenversicherung der RentnerStatutory health insurance for pensioners. Whether you qualify depends on how long you were in statutory insurance during your working life. (KVdR). Members of the KVdR pay contributions only on certain types of income, above all on the statutory pension. Rental and investment income stay free of contributions. One requirement for the KVdR is that the person was in statutory insurance for at least nine tenths of the second half of their working life and receives a statutory pension.
Because lawyers pay into the Versorgungswerk and not into the statutory pension insurance, they are usually classed as voluntary members in retirement. Voluntary members pay health and long-term care insurance contributions on all types of income. Together with the often higher pension from the Versorgungswerk, this frequently leads to the maximum contribution of around €1,000 in retirement. You carry it alone, because Versorgungswerke pay no allowance toward health insurance contributions. Private health insurance, in contrast, stays independent of income.
Lawyers: insider knowledge on private health insurance
DKV group contract with a special acceptance rule
Lawyers are among the professional groups for which special DKV group contracts exist. For lawyers with relevant pre-existing conditions, this additional way in is therefore of particular interest.
PKV-Welt practical insight: An illness does not automatically end the option of private health insurance. What matters is which acceptance options the group contract for your profession actually opens up.
Giving instructions from your sickbed
The DKV plan KGT2 contains an unusual special rule for lawyers. According to the insurance conditions as presented, urgent individual actions as well as instructions or information to the law firm do not count as practicing the profession, although the lawyer is unable to work. For Krankentagegeld this matters a great deal, because law firm owners in particular can rarely hand over their responsibility completely.
PKV-Welt practical insight: No normal premium comparison finds clauses like this. Two plans can look similar on paper and still work in completely different ways in practice.
A Krankentagegeld plan of its own for lawyers
The DKV covers lawyers and notaries through the special KGT2. This is not a discounted regular plan, but a plan designed for certain liberal professions.
How much does private health insurance cost for lawyers?
For lawyers, private health insurance starts at around €300. As a self-employed person, you carry the premium alone. In return, it does not depend on your revenue. Plans with good medical benefits cost about €450 to €600 per month. Krankentagegeld comes on top, depending on the amount.
What monthly premiums should you expect in statutory and private health insurance?
Voluntary members of statutory health insurance pay according to income. With higher revenue, 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 €450 per month. Krankentagegeld is calculated on top.
How do premiums develop in the long term?
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.
How do costs stay manageable in old age?
The premium is calculated regardless of income. This helps when your legal work winds down. 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.
How can I reduce my premiums?
A deductible suits lawyers 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. The amount of your Krankentagegeld should also match your needs.
Example calculationLawyer · 34 years old · comfort plan
| Parameter | Current status (voluntary statutory) | Target status (private) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | €1,017.19 | €540 | −€477 |
| Employer contribution | none | none | same |
| Own share, gross | €1,017.19 | €540 | −€477 |
| Total annual costs | around €12,200 | €6,480 | −€5,720 |
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.
The best plans for lawyers
Strong plans that have proven themselves for employees in economically stable professions.
Universa Uni-TopIprivat 300
Uni-TopIprivat 300
- 10 Benefits
- 8 Stability
- 9 Claims
- 9 Family
- 6 Premium
ARAG MB0
MB0
- 9 Benefits
- 8 Stability
- 6 Claims
- 9 Family
- 6 Premium
Signal Iduna Exklusiv-SI
Exklusiv-SI
- 8 Benefits
- 8 Stability
- 9 Claims
- 10 Family
- 3 Premium
DKV PMN0
PremiumMed PMN0
- 10 Benefits
- 7 Stability
- 9 Claims
- 8 Family
- 3 Premium
Allianz GSB
GSB70, GSUB90, GSUB100, GSZ100
- 9 Benefits
- 8 Stability
- 9 Claims
- 8 Family
- 3 Premium
LKH GUP
GUP
- 9 Benefits
- 8 Stability
- 8 Claims
- 8 Family
- 4 Premium
Hanse Merkur AZP
AZP, EGO2, PS3, PSV
- 7 Benefits
- 9 Stability
- 8 Claims
- 7 Family
- 6 Premium
Bayerische Beamtenkrankenkasse GesundVario
GesundVario400, VarioKlinik+, VarioZahn+
- 9 Benefits
- 6 Stability
- 9 Claims
- 7 Family
- 5 Premium
SDK AM10
AM10, S1, Z9
- 9 Benefits
- 8 Stability
- 9 Claims
- 7 Family
- 3 Premium
Alte Oldenburger A90/100
A90/100, K20, K/S, Z100/80
- 8 Benefits
- 7 Stability
- 9 Claims
- 6 Family
- 5 Premium
AXA GesundExtra
GesundExtra, Premium Zahn-U
- 8 Benefits
- 7 Stability
- 8 Claims
- 8 Family
- 4 Premium
Hallesche NK.select XL
NK.select XL Bonus
- 8 Benefits
- 6 Stability
- 8 Claims
- 9 Family
- 4 Premium
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.
Which benefits matter for lawyers?
Popular benefit modules you can choose in your private health insurance.
Dental treatment and dentures
Private health insurance should cover at least 80% of high costs for dental treatment, crowns, implants and other dentures.
Chief physician treatment and single room
Often a cost driver: how important are these benefits to you? This is a personal decision.
Preventive check-ups
Private health insurance should reimburse the important preventive check-ups without restrictions.
Therapeutic treatments
Physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy should be reimbursed without tight benefit limits, so that an absence from the law firm stays short.
Rehab and spa treatment
The Versorgungswerk for lawyers does not cover rehab and spa treatment ideally. This benefit therefore belongs in your private health insurance plan.
Medical aids
Private health insurance should pay for medically necessary aids such as hearing aids, bandages or orthopedic insoles.
Accommodation and optional benefits
Single or two-bed room and optional medical benefits, depending on the comfort you want in hospital.
Save up to 25% on your private health insurance
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The essentials of private health insurance in 10 minutes
We show you what you should know before switching to private health insurance.
- Explained step by step
- Each lesson also as a short video (in German)
- Short and to the point
1. Who is private health insurance right for?
When private health insurance makes sense2. What are the requirements for joining?
Requirements for private health insurance3. What should you know about the health questions?
Health questions explained4. How high are the costs in old age?
Private health insurance in old age5. What are the key differences between statutory and private?
Statutory and private compared6. How does the switch to private health insurance work?
Switching to private health insurance7. What to do about a premium adjustment?
Premium adjustments in private health insurance8. Which benefits matter most?
Benefits of private health insurance 1 / 8
Swipe, drag or use the arrows Frequently asked questions
Can lawyers always take out private health insurance?
Self-employed lawyers have free access to private health insurance, regardless of income. Employed in-house counsel can switch as soon as their gross salary is above the Versicherungspflichtgrenze Versicherungspflichtgrenze · JahresarbeitsentgeltgrenzeThe annual income threshold in Germany. Employees who earn more than this per year may leave statutory health insurance and switch to private health insurance.More about JAEG →.
How does private health insurance relate to the Versorgungswerk?
The Versorgungswerk secures your pension, not your medical costs. You take out health insurance separately. Both building blocks should be planned to match each other.
Why is Krankentagegeld important for lawyers?
Without an employer, there is no continued payment of wages during illness. Krankentagegeld replaces your lost income from an agreed day and covers the running costs of your law firm and your living costs during a longer illness.
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Switching to private health insurance is probably not advisable for you.
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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