Is Private Health Insurance Worth It in Germany? (2025 Data)

Private health insurance in Germany is often praised for offering better coverage, shorter wait times, and more flexibility than public insurance.

It can even be cheaper, especially for young professionals and high earners.

But switching from public to private isn’t always a clear-cut decision.

Eligibility rules, long-term costs, and coverage differences can all impact whether it’s the right move for you.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Who qualifies for private health insurance in Germany
• How much it costs, compared to public insurance
• What private insurance covers (and what it doesn’t)
• When private health insurance is worth it
• When it makes sense to stick with public insurance
• And how to choose the right option based on your lifestyle and needs

By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how health insurance works in Germany, whether private health insurance is worth it for you in 2024, and what to do next if you’re considering a switch.

What is private health insurance in Germany?

Private health insurance (or Private Krankenversicherung, PKV) is a complete alternative to public insurance. It’s available to certain groups, including:

• High-income employees (earning over €73,800 per year in 2024)
• Self-employed people and freelancers
• Civil servants
• Students in some cases

It’s valid for all visa types and residency permits.

Private plans come with benefits you won’t usually get with public insurance, such as:

• Shorter wait times
• Direct access to specialists
• Customized coverage
• Optional add-ons (like dental or vision care)
• Cashback if you don’t use certain services

How popular is private health insurance in Germany?

Only about 13% of people in Germany have private health insurance, while the remaining 87% use public insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). 

Why the imbalance?

It’s mostly about eligibility. 

Most people don’t meet the income threshold (€73,800) or aren’t in a qualified job category (self-employed, freelance, or civil servant).

Another reason private insurance isn’t more popular is the concern about long-term costs. But this concern is often overstated.

Long-term data shows that over the past 20 years:

• Private insurance premiums rose by an average of 3.1% per year
• Public insurance premiums rose by about 3.8% per year

So, while costs can rise, private insurance has increased more slowly on average.

What does private health insurance cost in Germany?

Unlike public insurance, private premiums aren’t tied to your income. Instead, they depend on:

• Your age
• Health status
• Number of dependents
• Occupation
• Desired coverage level

Here’s a rough idea of monthly premiums for healthy individuals:

Tip: Use a private health insurance calculator to get a personalized estimate.

Some plans also offer cashback if you don’t make claims, which can reduce your effective cost significantly. We’ll cover that next.

What other benefits does private health insurance provide?

Private health insurance in Germany can be more affordable in many cases—but that’s just the start. It also comes with extra benefits that offer more control, faster access to care, and even ways to save money over time.

Coverage built around you

One of the most significant advantages of private health insurance is the ability to tailor your plan to your needs and budget.

With public insurance, your coverage is fixed.

You pay the same rate regardless of whether you use certain benefits. That can mean paying out of pocket for services that aren’t covered, or paying for things you don’t need.

Private insurance gives you more flexibility.

You can choose a plan with extra coverage for vision care, dental treatment, or alternative medicine. Or you can keep it simple and use a more basic (and cheaper) option if you don’t need those extras.

For example, if you wear glasses, you can pick a plan with higher vision benefits. If not, you can skip that coverage and lower your monthly cost. The same goes for other services like osteopathy, acupuncture, or private hospital rooms.

Easier access to specialist services

With public insurance, you usually need a referral from your general doctor to see a specialist. And, frankly, wait times can be long.

Private insurance often allows you to:

• Book specialists directly, no visit to your GP required.
• Get faster appointments, as doctors reserve slots for privately insured patients.
• Be treated by senior physicians in hospitals (depending on your plan)

Cashbacks and bonuses

Private insurance can also reward you for staying healthy.

Most private insurers offer a “no-claim” bonus: 

You get money back if you only use preventive care, like dental cleanings or annual checkups, and don’t file claims for other treatments.

At Feather, for example, the no-claim bonus grows every year:

• Year 1: €303
• Year 2: €540
• Year 3: €776
• Year 4: €1,013
• Year 5 and beyond: €1,249

There’s also a monthly cashback of €100 (or €1,200 per year), which you can use however you like. These rewards make it easier to lower your total yearly health insurance cost.

Let’s look at what this could mean in real numbers:

That’s about €163 per month. And if you go claim-free for five years, your yearly cost drops even further, down to just €1,187 per year, or €98 per month.

Of course, this depends on your personal health and how often you use medical services. Paying small bills out of pocket instead of claiming them helps you qualify for bonuses and save more over time.

If you’re curious about how this could work for you, we recommend speaking to one of our experts. They can explain how cashback plans work and help you find the right fit, especially if they initially sound a bit complex.

So, when is private health insurance worth it?

Let’s recap what we covered in this article…

Private insurance might be a good fit if:

• You’re under 40 and in good health
• You’re self-employed or a high-income employee
• You value faster service and more personalized care
• You rarely go to the doctor and want to save with cashback
• You want more control over your coverage

It might not be worth it if:

• You have a pre-existing condition:  Private insurers can charge higher premiums or deny coverage for specific conditions. Public insurance may be a safer choice if you’ve had serious medical treatment or chronic illness.
• You have a large family: Public insurance covers dependents (like children or a non-working spouse) at no extra cost. With private insurance, each person needs their own plan.