How to switch to private health insurance: step by step

Whether the switch makes economic sense in the long run depends on several factors. Our check follows three rules of thumb:

• Entry age under about 40 years, because later entry leads to clearly higher starting premiums
• Minimum net income of around €3,000 a month, so that the premium stays affordable in weaker years as well
• A clear life plan, because employees or self-employed people who want a family must insure each family member with their own premium, which would be contribution-free in statutory insurance

In our advice we often see that a switch without this suitability check is regretted after a few years. All three rules of thumb should therefore be clearly met before the formal application starts.

In practice, a switch rarely fails because of eligibility alone. Most problems arise in the process, above all with timing and health information.

A common mistake is to cancel statutory health insurance before the binding declaration of acceptance from the private insurer is in. Only once it is clear that the insurer accepts the application, and on what terms, should the cancellation of your current cover be finalized. Otherwise you create needless pressure and, in the worst case, even a gap in cover.

Health information is especially critical. Many applicants leave out diagnoses because they consider them harmless or healed. Only the specific question in the application counts. Incomplete or inaccurate answers can later be far more serious than a risk surcharge at the outset.

Mistakes also happen with the start of cover if the start of private health insurance does not match the end of statutory insurance. A start that is too early costs double premiums. If it is too late, there are problems with proving the follow-on insurance.

Another pitfall is the missing suitability check. Before the application, your income and family planning belong on the table, just like your health, your career outlook and the quality of the plan.

Realistically four to eight weeks. Two to four weeks of that are for processing the application. The rest is preparation, the notice period under § 175 SGB V and agreeing on the date.

Deviating from this order almost always causes problems:

1. Clarify eligibility and suitability.
2. Anonymous risk enquiry with several insurers in parallel.
3. Formal application with the insurer you chose.
4. Cancel statutory health insurance as soon as the declaration of acceptance is in writing, never before.
5. Confirm the start of cover and the first premium.

With a specialized insurance broker there are no costs. Anonymous risk enquiries and the advice are free of charge for you.

After several rejections, the Basistarif applies as the plan with a statutory obligation to accept. The maximum premium in 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 around €1,017.18 a month in 2026, and it can be halved if need for assistance is proven under § 152 (4) VAG. Alternatively, you can continue statutory insurance voluntarily and add private supplementary insurance.