Once privately insured, always privately insured?
There are two health insurance systems in Germany, private and statutory health insurance. Perhaps you are wondering whether once privately insured also means that you always have to remain privately insured. There are some regulations to be observed in this regard, such as the requirements for switching back to the statutory health insurance.
The conditions under which privately insured persons can switch once
Most of the time, consumers who have been privately insured will always have to remain privately insured.
- When it comes to changing from private to statutory health insurance, there are strict requirements in Germany that must be met. It is by no means easy to choose between PKV and GKV if you have always been privately insured.
- One reason that allows you to return to statutory health insurance is to fall below the mandatory insurance limit. This is only important for employees who, because of their high income, were able to take out private health insurance above the compulsory insurance limit. If the income falls below the compulsory insurance limit, it is possible to return to statutory health insurance.
- It is seldom the case that income falls, so this reason for returning to statutory health insurance is often theoretical. Another possibility is that you give up your previously self-employed activity and return to an employment relationship as a privately insured person. A change is possible under this condition.
Some people always have to remain privately insured
- Some people who have once been privately insured must always remain privately insured, even if they can meet the aforementioned requirements. This applies to consumers who are 55 years of age or older. Have completed the year of their life. If this is the case, a return to the statutory health insurance is not possible.
Getting out of private health insurance is not that easy. Who first ...
- In particular, employees who are above the compulsory insurance limit and would like to switch to statutory health insurance in the future should do so in good time before their 55th birthday. Ensure a reduction in their income. This can be done, for example, by reducing the weekly working hours.
Switching back to the GKV is associated with numerous conditions and is not possible for many consumers who have private health insurance. The change from the statutory health insurance to a private one Health insurance is, however, much easier. Because both self-employed and freelancers as well as civil servants and students can freely choose between the two health insurance systems. This also applies to employees with an income above the compulsory insurance limit.
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