Private health insurance in Germany (PKV): how it works and when it's worth it
Private health insurance (Private Krankenversicherung, or PKV) is available if your salary exceeds €77,400 gross per year, or if you're self-employed or a civil servant. It offers higher coverage, faster appointments and more flexibility than public insurance (GKV).
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What is private health insurance (PKV) in Germany?
Private Krankenversicherung (PKV) is the German private health insurance system, an alternative to public insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, or GKV). It works through individual policies with premiums tailored to your age, health status and level of coverage, rather than being calculated as a percentage of your salary.
Compared with the GKV (which covers around 87% of the German population), the PKV offers broader coverage, free choice of doctors and hospitals, a private room during hospital stays and, in many tariffs, an annual refund if you don't use your benefits. Around 9 million people in Germany have full private health insurance.
At Bramex we help you analyse your specific situation, compare real costs and make an informed decision. No pressure and no small print.
When can you take out private health insurance in Germany?
Access to the PKV depends mainly on your income level or your professional situation. It can be taken out by: high-earning employees, self-employed people, civil servants (Beamte) and, in some cases, students and PhD students.
What you should know about this threshold (2026)
- All parts of your salary count, not just the base pay. Variable pay, bonuses and allowances also count.
- If you've just arrived in Germany and your salary is above this threshold, you can take out private insurance from day one.
- If you've had public insurance for a while and your salary has risen above this limit, you can also switch.
- If you got a raise that takes you over the threshold mid-year, your total accumulated salary for the full year must exceed €77,400 gross to switch that same year. Otherwise, the switch applies from 1 January of the following year.
- You must give 2 months' notice to your Krankenkasse before the switch date.
- If you're self-employed or a civil servant, the threshold doesn't apply: you can take out PKV freely.
How much does private insurance cost in Germany?
The cost of the PKV isn't calculated as a percentage of your salary; it depends on four factors: age when you take it out, health status, insurance company and the level of coverage you choose. These are the indicative market ranges for standard coverage:
Employer contribution: if you're an employee, your company covers up to 50% of the PKV cost, capped at €508.59/month in 2026. That means your real cost is half the total premium. Since actual prices depend on your case, it's best to request a personalised quote.
Private vs public insurance: key differences
An honest comparison so you understand what each one offers before you decide.
Private insurance benefits by medical area
General practitioner
- Short-notice appointments
- Longer, more personalised consultations
- More preventive check-ups covered
Specialists
- Direct access without long waiting times
- Specialised therapies included
- Good coverage with naturopaths
Dentist
- Much higher coverage for dental treatments
- Implants and crowns with broad coverage
- Dental cleaning included depending on tariff
Hospital
- Private room
- Treated by the head of department
- Access to the most modern treatment technologies
Insurance tailored to your personal situation
Private health insurance in Germany offers a wide variety of tariffs. You can design a policy that's cheaper than public insurance, or one that offers much broader coverage, depending on what you need.
This flexibility is one of its biggest advantages: private insurance adapts to you, not the other way around. Before you choose, at Bramex we explain all the available options so you have all the facts and can decide with confidence.
See the public vs private calculatorPKV for foreigners and expats: what you should know
If you're coming from outside Germany, access to private insurance has some particularities depending on your profile. These are the most common cases among our clients.
🇪🇺 Workers from the EU / EEA / Switzerland
You have free access to the German labour market. If your contract exceeds €77,400 gross per year, you can choose PKV from day one. Below that threshold, GKV is mandatory. EU self-employed people can take out PKV freely with no income requirement.
🌍 Workers from outside the EU
You need a valid visa or work permit (§18a/b, Blue Card, Chancenkarte, etc.). If your contract exceeds the PKV threshold of €77,400 gross per year, you can take out PKV from day one. The application usually asks for a copy of your work permit and signed contract.
💻 Engineers, IT and highly qualified professionals
This is one of the profiles where PKV is most cost-effective. Above the PKV threshold (€77,400/year), private premiums are usually cheaper than the GKV percentage. If you have a Blue Card but are below the PKV threshold, GKV is mandatory until you exceed it.
🧑💼 Self-employed and freelancers
You can take out PKV freely, regardless of your income, whether you come from the EU or outside it (with a valid residence permit). It's very common among the self-employed because voluntary GKV usually has high premiums. See health insurance for freelancers.
🎓 Students and PhD students
Up to age 30 you can access special tariffs. For those over 30 or certain profiles, there are specific private policies. This applies to both EU and non-EU students with a student visa. See health insurance for university students.
👨⚕️ Doctors and healthcare professionals
The traditional PKV profile in Germany. Competitive tariffs and broad coverage tailored to the profession and its specific health risks.
Looking for a premium PKV with specialised advice?
If your salary comfortably exceeds the threshold, you're self-employed with a high income, or your professional profile fits premium tariffs (Blue Card, senior engineers, doctors, executives), we recommend taking a look at Bramex Plus, our specialised offering for high-end private health insurance.
Discover Bramex PlusFrequently asked questions about private health insurance
How much does private health insurance cost in Germany?
The cost varies depending on age, health status, company and level of coverage. As a guide, an employee aged 25–35 would pay between €250–450/month; aged 35–45, €400–650/month; and aged 45–55, €550–800/month. If you're an employee, your company covers up to 50% of the cost (capped at €508.59/month in 2026), so your real cost is half.
I've had a pay rise. I now earn more than €6,450 gross per month. Can I switch to private insurance now?
In principle yes, but bear in mind that your total accumulated salary over the whole year (your previous salary plus the new one) must exceed €77,400 gross per year. If that's not the case, you'll have to wait until the following year and the switch will apply from 1 January. Remember you must also give 2 months' notice to your Krankenkasse before the date you want to switch.
Is private insurance cheaper than public insurance?
It can be, depending on three key factors: your age at the time of switching, the company and tariff you choose, and your current health status. For high salaries, private insurance is usually cheaper than public, which is calculated as ~17.5% of your salary. In our calculator you can see how much you'd save in your case.
What specific advantages does private insurance have over public?
The main ones are: much higher dental coverage, access to more doctors and hospitals with shorter waiting times, hospital care in a private room by the head of department, and the option to include treatments the public system doesn't cover, such as certain fertility treatments. Before you sign up, we explain in detail what each tariff covers.
Is there private insurance for foreigners in Germany?
Yes. The PKV is available to foreigners on the same terms as for Germans: by exceeding the salary threshold of €77,400 per year, being self-employed, a civil servant or a student in specific cases. There's no restriction by nationality. If you come from outside the EU, you need a valid work or residence permit to access the system.
Do I get money back if I don't use the insurance and don't submit claims?
It depends on the company and the chosen tariff. In many cases, if you don't submit claims during the year, you receive a refund that can range from €200 to €1,000 or more per year. It's one of the exclusive advantages of private insurance.
Are there different tariffs within private health insurance?
Yes. At Bramex we've analysed the private health insurance market in Germany and selected the best options, grouping them into four tariffs by level of coverage: BASIC, SMART, PRO and MAS. Each is designed for a different profile, from the most essential to the most complete. Discover the details at Bramex Plus.
Want to know how much your private insurance would cost?
Check our public vs private insurance calculator and see in seconds how much you'd pay and how much you could save based on your salary and situation.
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