Compare Private Health Insurance in Germany

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What is Private Health Insurance in Germany?

Private health insurance, known as Private Krankenversicherung or PKV, is an alternative to the statutory system, the gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV). Germany operates a dual system: most residents are in the GKV, where contributions are based on income, while a defined group can opt into PKV, where premiums are based on the individual's age, health and chosen level of cover. A PKV policy is a full-substitute health insurance that replaces GKV, offering benefits such as private-room hospital stays, treatment by senior consultants and broader choice of treatments, depending on the tariff selected.

PKV is a long-term commitment. Because premiums and benefits are tied to your personal circumstances at the point of joining, the choice of insurer and tariff has lasting consequences.

How the German market works

Not everyone may choose PKV. Eligibility is limited mainly to employees earning above the Versicherungspflichtgrenze (the compulsory-insurance income threshold, around €69,000 per year), the self-employed, and civil servants (Beamte), who receive state Beihilfe that covers part of their costs and top up the remainder with a private policy. Premiums are risk-based and set at entry according to age and a health assessment, then rise over time as medical costs increase.

To dampen premium increases in later life, insurers build up Alterungsrückstellungen (ageing provisions) from your contributions while you are younger. A key feature of the system is that returning from PKV to GKV is difficult, particularly for older or higher-earning members, so switching should be considered carefully.

Benefits

Enhanced treatment — access to private hospital rooms, senior consultants and a wider range of covered treatments.

Tailored cover — choose the benefit level that fits your needs rather than a one-size scheme.

Beihilfe fit — for Beamte, PKV pairs efficiently with state Beihilfe to cover costs.

Premium not income-linked — for higher earners, contributions do not automatically rise with salary as they do in GKV.

Ageing provisions — Alterungsrückstellungen are built up to help cushion premiums later in life.

How to choose

First confirm you are eligible to leave GKV. Then compare tariffs on the actual benefits, such as hospital and dental cover, not just the starting premium, because a low entry price can reflect thinner cover or higher excess. Consider the insurer's track record on premium stability over time, since increases are a defining risk of PKV. Factor in your life stage: family members are insured individually in PKV, unlike the family cover included in GKV. Because the decision is hard to reverse, many people take independent advice before switching.

Leading providers in Germany

Debeka and DKV are among the largest private health insurers, with Debeka particularly strong among civil servants. Allianz (Allianz PKV), Barmenia, Generali, Gothaer and DEVK are established insurers offering a range of full-substitute PKV tariffs. DA Direkt is a direct insurer that markets policies with a digital-first approach. Each differs in tariff design, benefit levels and long-term premium history, so comparing several is worthwhile before committing.

What it costs

PKV premiums are individual and cannot be quoted as a simple market range, because they depend on your age at entry, health assessment, chosen benefit level and any excess. A younger, healthy applicant on a modest tariff may pay less than an equivalent GKV contribution, while comprehensive cover or entry at an older age costs considerably more. Crucially, premiums are not fixed for life: they rise over time with medical inflation, which is why the ageing provisions and an insurer's record on increases matter as much as the starting price.

Protections and regulation

Private health insurers are supervised by BaFin. German law requires PKV insurers to build Alterungsrückstellungen to moderate later-life premiums, and every private insurer must offer a Basistarif, a standardised tariff with benefits comparable to GKV and a premium capped at the maximum GKV contribution, which cannot reject applicants who are eligible for it. Full-substitute PKV also satisfies the statutory duty for everyone in Germany to hold health insurance. These rules provide a safety net within an otherwise individually priced system.

Common questions

Can anyone switch to PKV? No; it is mainly for higher-earning employees above the threshold, the self-employed and civil servants. Can I go back to GKV? It is possible but often difficult, especially when older or higher-earning. Why do premiums rise? They increase with medical costs, though ageing provisions cushion the effect. Are family members covered? Each person is insured individually, unlike GKV family cover. What is the Basistarif? A regulated standard tariff every PKV insurer must offer.

Private Health Insurance in Germany — FAQ