Cancel private health insurance: notice periods, follow-on cover, special right of termination

Depending on the insurer, regular termination of a private health insurance contract is based either on the calendar year or on the individual insurance year of the contract. You also need to consider the minimum contract term, which is up to two years depending on the company.

With many companies, regular termination is possible with three months' notice to the end of the year. In this case, the insurer must receive the termination by September 30 at the latest so that the contract can end on December 31.

However, there are also plans where the individual insurance year counts instead of the calendar year. It is based on the start of cover agreed in the contract. For example, if a contract starts on July 1, the insurance year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. The insurer would then have to receive the termination by March 31 at the latest.

What always counts is the date the insurer actually receives the termination, not the date you send it. Text form is enough, which means a letter, email or fax. In practice, registered mail with return receipt is a good idea so that you can prove receipt.

The rules differ in the minimum contract term and in whether the calendar year or the individual insurance year counts. The following overview summarizes common companies. If in doubt, the insurance conditions of the company apply.

Some companies have special rules. The Deutsche Familienversicherung has no minimum contract term and can be canceled any day. ERGO Direkt has no minimum contract term and can be canceled without notice to the end of any month.

The special right of termination under § 205 (4) VVG applies to every premium increase by the insurer, regardless of its size. A reduction in benefits also triggers it.

The deadline is two months from receipt of the written notice. The termination takes effect on the date of the premium increase. It can apply retroactively if the deadline only ends after the date of the increase. With the special right of termination, too, you must prove your follow-on cover.

The duty to have follow-on cover is set out in § 193 VVG and § 205 (6) VVG. If you cancel your private health insurance without proof of follow-on cover, your termination is invalid.

There are several routes to follow-on cover. You can be accepted into statutory health insurance as a compulsorily insured member, for example as an employee below the Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze (i)JAEG · 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 →. Other routes are voluntary statutory health insurance, family insurance through a partner with statutory health insurance, or a new contract with another private insurer. Enclose the confirmation of acceptance from statutory health insurance or the policy document of the new contract with your termination.

People often consider canceling their private health insurance too quickly. We recommend that you weigh up the alternatives first. The internal plan change under § 204 VVG keeps your ageing reserves in full. A switch to another insurer only transfers part of them. A return to statutory health insurance is an option if your income falls below the Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze (i).

If your insurer is threatened with insolvency, termination with a switch to another insurer is urgent and the right strategy. If a return to statutory health insurance is an option, check it early, before you turn 55, because it is usually no longer possible after that.

With a simple termination without a switch to another insurer, the ageing reserves are lost in full. If you switch to another private insurer, only the share of the Basistarif (i)BasistarifA statutory social plan that every private insurer must offer. Its benefits are comparable to statutory health insurance, and its premium is capped at the statutory maximum contribution.More about Basistarif → is transferred, and only for contracts from 2009. With an internal plan change under § 204 VVG, they are kept in full.

The insurance year starts on the agreed start of cover, not necessarily on January 1. You will find the exact date in the policy document under start of cover. For regular termination, the insurer must receive your letter three months before the anniversary of the start of the contract.

In principle yes, if the insurer agrees. There is no legal right to withdraw it. If the insurer has already confirmed the termination, it can refuse the withdrawal. Many insurers are accommodating if you request the withdrawal in writing before the effective date.

The termination is invalid under § 205 (6) VVG and the contract automatically continues. You remain insured and must keep paying premiums. The termination only becomes effective once you submit proof of follow-on cover.

No. Termination by the insured person is free of charge. Neither cancellation fees nor processing fees are allowed. With a special termination because of a premium increase that takes effect retroactively, premiums you have overpaid can be refunded.