Private Health Insurance for Expats in Germany (2026 Guide)
Jonas Marx
Independent Insurance Broker
Key Facts
- Employees earning above 77,400 EUR gross/year (JAEG 2026) can switch to PKV
- Freelancers and self-employed can join PKV regardless of income
- Typical monthly cost for a healthy professional in their early 30s: 250-400 EUR
- Employer subsidy covers up to 607.40 EUR/month for employed workers
- Returning to public insurance after age 55 is virtually impossible
Moving to Germany means making one of the most important financial decisions of your life within your first few weeks: public or private health insurance. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about PKV as an expat in 2026 — no jargon, no sales pitch.
Who can get private health insurance in Germany?
Not everyone is eligible for PKV. In Germany, your access to private health insurance depends on your employment type and income level. Here is who qualifies:
Employees earning above the Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze (JAEG) of 77,400 EUR gross per year in 2026 can opt out of the public system and switch to PKV. Freelancers and self-employed professionals can join PKV regardless of their income — there is no minimum threshold.
The JAEG is adjusted annually by the German government. It increased from 73,800 EUR in 2025 to 77,400 EUR in 2026 — one of the largest jumps in recent years.
How much does PKV actually cost?
Unlike public insurance (GKV), where your premium is a percentage of your salary, PKV premiums are based on your age at entry, health status, and the coverage level you choose. This means a healthy 30-year-old will often pay significantly less for better coverage than they would in the public system.
For a healthy professional in their late 20s to early 30s, typical PKV premiums range from 250 to 400 EUR per month, depending on the plan. A high-end plan with private room, chief physician treatment, and full dental can run 600-800 EUR.
The real question is not whether PKV is cheaper today — it is whether it is the right structural decision for your life in Germany over the next 10, 20, or 30 years.
What about the employer subsidy?
If you are employed, your employer is legally required to contribute to your health insurance — whether you are in GKV or PKV. In 2026, the maximum employer subsidy is 508.59 EUR/month for health insurance and 98.81 EUR/month for care insurance, totalling up to 607.40 EUR/month.
The employer subsidy makes PKV particularly attractive for employed professionals. A plan costing 500 EUR/month might only cost you 250 EUR out of pocket after the subsidy.
Can you switch back to public insurance?
This is the most important consideration — and the most misunderstood. For employees, returning to GKV is only possible if your income drops below the JAEG threshold. After age 55, returning is virtually impossible if you have been privately insured for the preceding five years.
This is not a decision to make lightly. Getting independent advice before switching is essential — which is exactly why TheGoodBroker exists.
Not sure if PKV is right for you?
Book a free 30-minute call. We will run the numbers for your specific situation — no strings attached.
Talk to us →How to choose the right PKV provider
There are over 30 PKV providers in Germany, and each offers dozens of tariff combinations. Comparing them yourself is nearly impossible without industry tools. Key factors to evaluate include: the provider's Beitragsstabilitat (premium stability history), Altersruckstellungen (age reserve policy), service quality, and the specific coverage details of each tariff.
What to look for in a plan
Beyond the headline premium, pay attention to the deductible (Selbstbeteiligung), dental coverage percentage, hospital accommodation level (shared, double, or single room), and whether alternative medicine is included. A plan that looks cheap on paper may have exclusions that cost you significantly when you actually need care.
This is where an independent broker adds real value. We compare across all providers with no financial incentive to steer you toward any particular one. The insurer pays us the same commission regardless of which plan you choose — so our only job is finding the right fit for you.