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What to do when your private health insurance premium goes up

In short

First check whether the letter states the reasons, then ask your insurer for its other tariffs. Switching within the same company often saves 10 to 30 percent and your ageing reserves stay intact. Moving to another insurer rarely pays off after a few years, because you lose a large part of that reserve.

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What to do when your private health insurance premium goes up

What it costs

Guide values from published figures on the 2026 adjustments and the maximum premiums of the social tariffs.

Example	Typical range
Average increase on 1 January 2026, affected tariffs	about 13 percent
Switching tariff with your own insurer	often 10 to 30 percent lower premium
Higher deductible	often 10 to 25 percent lower premium
Standard tariff after the 2026 adjustment, average	around EUR 480 a month, at most EUR 848.62
Basic tariff 2026	at most EUR 1,017.18 a month

As of September 2026. Savings from a tariff switch or deductible depend heavily on the tariff; we ask your insurer what is possible in your case.

Worked example

Self-employed consultant, 52, privately insured for 20 years

His premium rises from EUR 720 to EUR 815. This is how the numbers can look after a tariff switch.

Premium before the increase	EUR 720
Premium after the increase, around 13 percent more	EUR 815
New tariff with the same insurer, same core benefits	about EUR 620 to 690
Deductible in the new tariff	EUR 600 instead of EUR 300 a year

After the switch he pays about EUR 125 to 195 a month less than after the increase, keeps his reserves and needs no new health check.

Why your premium rises

A private health insurer (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) may only raise premiums if claims costs or life expectancy in a tariff differ clearly from what was calculated. The law sets fixed thresholds, and an independent trustee (Treuhänder) must agree.

Because the threshold is often crossed only after several years, increases come in jumps. In 2025 and 2026 hospitals, medicines and care became much more expensive, hence the large adjustments. Getting older has nothing to do with it.

Your options compared

Not every measure suits everyone. If you are healthy and rarely see a doctor, a higher deductible works well; if you need regular treatment, it saves you little.

Dropping benefits is quick, but adding them back later means a new health check. Think carefully about what you give up.

Measure	Saving	Downside
Switching tariff with your own insurer	often 10 to 30 percent	extra benefits only with a health check
Raising the deductible	often 10 to 25 percent	higher costs per doctor visit, lower tax benefit
Dropping modules, such as the single room	depends on the module	getting them back needs a new check
Adjusting sick pay	depends on the amount	less protection in a long illness
Standard or basic tariff	premium capped	benefits roughly at public level, doctors charge lower rates
Moving to another insurer	rarely	reserves largely lost, new health check

Checking the letter

The insurer must state which calculation basis triggered the increase, either claims costs or mortality. If the letter only mentions general cost increases, the increase may be formally invalid.

In that case overpaid premiums can be reclaimed for up to three years. The insurer can supply the reasons later, and the increase then applies from that date. A dispute usually only pays off for larger amounts.

The letters come in German and use a lot of technical terms. If you are unsure what yours says, have it translated or send it to us before the two-month deadline runs out.

When you had better change nothing

If your tariff has good benefits and the new premium is still affordable, waiting can be right. A cheaper tariff with less cover backfires if a serious illness comes later.

Employees should know: your employer pays half, at most EUR 508.59. You only feel half of an increase, but the full effect of any cut in benefits.

Cancelling and switching: almost always the worse choice

After an increase you may cancel within two months. The cancellation only takes effect if you prove new health cover, because in Germany you must be insured.

With a new insurer your current age and health count. You only take the part of your reserves that matches the basic tariff, and only for contracts from 2009. After ten or more years, switching is usually more expensive than the increase.

If you are thinking of leaving Germany anyway, do not decide in a hurry. A dormant policy (Anwartschaftsversicherung) can keep your health status and sometimes your entry age for a later return.

Step by step

Read the letter: which tariff rises, by how much, and what reason is given?
Ask your insurer in writing for all tariffs you can switch to without a health check.
Compare the offers benefit by benefit with your old tariff, not just the price.
Weigh the deductible and modules against your actual medical costs of recent years.
Decide and apply for the switch in writing; cancel only with a firm acceptance from a new insurer.

Checklist

Reasons for the increase checked in the letter
List of possible target tariffs requested from the insurer
Benefits of the new tariff compared with the old one
Effect on the employer share considered
No cancellation without proof of new cover
Two-month deadline for special cancellation in your calendar

Common mistakes

Cancelling in anger and starting again with a new insurer at a higher age
Taking the cheapest tariff and losing benefits such as psychotherapy or dentures
Setting the deductible so high that every doctor visit comes out of your own pocket
Filing the German letter unread and missing the deadline

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Do I have to accept a premium increase?

If it is properly justified and a trustee has agreed, yes. You can still switch tariff or adjust benefits.

Does a tariff switch need a new health check?

Only for benefits beyond your old tariff. For those, the insurer can charge a surcharge or exclude them.

Can I get money back?

For formally invalid increases, premiums can be reclaimed for up to three years. Whether your letter is affected can only be checked case by case.

Why does my premium rise although I was never ill?

The premium depends on the costs of everyone in your tariff, not on your own bills.

Does the no-claims refund help against the increase?

It softens it if you submit no bills. Paying small bills yourself only makes sense if the refund is higher than their total.

What if I can no longer pay the premium at all?

Then the standard or basic tariff remains. In the basic tariff the premium is halved if you would otherwise need welfare.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

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