Am I Eligible for Private Health Insurance in Germany?

Not every expat in Germany can choose private health insurance (PKV). But if you qualify, it could mean better services, faster access to care, and lower costs – especially if you’re young and healthy. So how do you know if you're eligible? Here's what you need to know.

First Things First: Two Systems, One Decision

Germany has two types of health insurance:

• Public health insurance (GKV): Available to everyone, with income-based contributions
• Private health insurance (PKV): Only available under certain conditions, but often with better service and flexibility

Before you decide, you need to know if switching is even an option.

Who Can Choose Private Health Insurance?

Let’s break it down:

You can switch to private insurance if you are:

• An employee earning over €73,800 per year (2025 threshold)
  You must earn above the annual income threshold (JAEG) to be eligible. This applies to your gross salary only, not bonuses or freelance income.
• Self-employed or freelance
  You’re free to choose private insurance – no income limit required.
• A civil servant (Beamter)
  You get subsidies from the government (Beihilfe), which makes private insurance the obvious choice.
• A student under 30
  Students can opt out of public insurance when they first enroll. After that, switching becomes difficult.
• A family member with no income
  Only if your partner is privately insured and you're not working, you might also need private coverage.

You usually can’t choose private insurance if:

• You’re an employee earning below €73,800/year
• You receive unemployment benefits (ALG I or II)
• You’re a retiree with statutory pension as main income
• You’re a late-enrolled student (already started university & didn’t opt out at the beginning)

What Counts Toward the Income Threshold (JAEG)?

Only regular, guaranteed gross salary counts:

• Base monthly salary × 12
• Plus Christmas/holiday bonuses if contractually guaranteed
• No freelance income, dividends, or bonuses unless fixed in your contract

💡 Tip: If you just got a new job with a higher salary, you’ll become eligible after 12 months of earning above the threshold.

What If You’re Not Eligible (Yet)?

No worries – eligibility can change over time. For example:

• A salary increase might make you eligible next year
• Starting your own business opens the door to private insurance
• Students and freelancers can time their switch to avoid lifetime public enrollment

We recommend planning early and getting advice before your window closes.

Not Sure Where You Stand? Let’s Find Out Together

We’ve created a quick eligibility tool for expats. No paperwork, no pressure – just a few questions to see what options are open to you.

👉 Start Eligibility Check