Can you switch to private health insurance?
Answer three questions about your work, salary and family, and we will show whether you can choose private insurance, from when, and what to consider first.
Updated: September 17, 2026
All thresholds and figures here are as at 2026. The compulsory insurance threshold is reviewed every autumn, so the figures change in January. If you already work in Germany and are in public insurance, you can move to private cover only on 1 January, and your salary has to be above the threshold of the following year as well: check it against the new figure once it is published.
The result is for information only and is not legal advice. Decisions are made by the embassy, the Ausländerbehörde and the Federal Employment Agency.
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Open →Who can choose private insurance
Health insurance is compulsory for everyone in Germany, but not everyone can choose between public (GKV) and private (PKV) cover. Your status and salary decide.
Employees can switch to private insurance if their regular gross salary is above the compulsory insurance threshold. As at 2026 that is €77,400 a year, or €6,450 a month. The threshold is reviewed every autumn, so it changes in January.
The self-employed and freelancers choose freely, with no threshold. Civil servants are almost always privately insured, because the state pays most of their medical costs.
New job or current job: the difference
If you are starting a new job, including moving to Germany on a Blue Card or changing employer, what counts is the salary expected at the start. Above the threshold, you can choose private insurance from your first working day.
If you already work and are in public insurance and your salary has gone up, you can only switch on 1 January. Your salary must be above the threshold both this year and next year: as at 2026 that means more than €77,400 now, while the following year's threshold is usually a little higher and has to be checked once it is published.
What to consider before switching
- Family. In public insurance a spouse without income and children are covered free of charge. In private insurance each person pays their own premium.
- Age. After 55 it is practically impossible to return to public insurance.
- Health. A private insurer assesses your health and may add a surcharge or decline.
- Premium. In private insurance it depends on your age and health at entry, not on your salary. Your employer pays half, up to €508.59 a month for health insurance.
A full comparison of the two systems, with contribution maths and the rules for families, is in the article "Private or public health insurance in Germany".
FAQ
I am moving on a Blue Card. Can I go private straight away?
Only if the salary in your contract is above the threshold, which is €77,400 a year as at 2026. The Blue Card threshold (€50,700 or €45,935) is much lower, so most Blue Card holders start in public insurance.
What counts as salary for the threshold?
Base salary, a guaranteed 13th salary and fixed allowances. Variable bonuses tied to company results and irregular overtime do not count.
Can I go back from private to public insurance later?
Before 55, yes, if you become compulsorily insured again, for example when your salary falls below the threshold. After 55 this is practically closed.
Which insurance does a freelancer need for a residence permit?
Full private health insurance under § 257(2a) SGB V: a long-term contract with a supervised German insurer and no cap on benefits. The deductible is assessed separately: above the usual reference figure of €300 a year it may require an individual assessment. Travel or incoming policies are usually not accepted for a residence permit.
Where can I find a policy?
Our insurance partner Finber arranges policies for people moving to Germany. Fill in the form at travel.finber.de/ru/predprinimateli/ and paste this phrase in the comment field: «Хочу самые лучшие условия страхования по промокоду Влад RE-LOCATE». If you are not sure whether switching makes sense for you, we can go through it in a consultation.