You can change your private health insurance (PKV) plan anytime, fully online. Upgrades usually require a health assessment; downgrades usually don’t. The FLEX add-on lets you upgrade without one during set windows or after certain life events. On a Short-term plan, you must move to the Standard, Plus, or Premium plan after 5 years, or once you get permanent residency or German citizenship.
What counts as an upgrade or downgrade?
You can change your private health insurance (PKV) plan anytime, fully online and with no paperwork. Most changes take effect from the 1st of the following month. Upgrades usually require a health assessment; downgrades usually do not.
Upgrade
Moving from Standard to Plus or Premium plan
Moving from the Short-term plan to a plan with old age savings: Standard, Plus, or Premium.
Lowering your deductible (e.g., from €3,000 to €1,200)
Adding or increasing your "sick pay" (income protection)
Downgrade
Moving from Premium to Standard or Plus plan
Increasing your deductible (e.g., from €1,200 to €3,000)
Decreasing your "sick pay" (income protection)
How do I change my plan?
Request a change. On your private health insurance policy page, open “Manage this policy” and select “Coverage change request” to see your options and request a quote.
Review your quote. We send you a personalized offer and the documents to review and sign within 3 to 5 business days.
Start your new plan. Once everything is signed, your new plan starts on the 1st of the following month.
Can I upgrade without a health assessment using FLEX?
If your plan includes the FLEX add-on, you can upgrade your plan, for example from Standard to Premium, or lower your deductible without a health assessment during set windows. Without FLEX you can still upgrade, but a health questionnaire is required.
FLEX can be used in 2 situations:
Fixed time intervals. You can apply to switch as of January 1 of the following year, after 2, 5, or 8 full calendar years from the start of your insurance. You must apply by January 31 of the year in which the change takes effect.
After certain life events. You can switch between the 1st and 7th month after any of these:
You start receiving a retirement pension, such as a state pension (Deutsche Rentenversicherung), a pension from a professional pension scheme, or a private lifetime annuity, provided the contract existed for at least 5 years and starts paying at age 60 or later.
You increase your income protection benefit (“Krankentagegeld”) by at least 10%
You change your employment type, e.g., from employee to self-employed or vice versa.
After 2 years in a new self-employed role, following a switch from employment.
Let us know that one of these applies to you and we guide you through the next steps.
Without the FLEX add-on, you can still upgrade, but a health questionnaire is required.
When do I have to move from the Short-term plan?
The Short-term plan is accepted for all visas and visa renewals and offers coverage similar to our plans with old age savings, but costs up to 50% less because it does not build old age savings.
You must move to the Standard, Plus, or Premium plan once you have held the Short-term plan for 5 years, or as soon as you get permanent residency or German citizenship. If you stay in Germany beyond 5 years, we help you make this change automatically, so your coverage stays valid and uninterrupted.
If the change is made within 1 month of receiving permanent residency or reaching the 5-year mark, no health questionnaire is needed.
What do I get by moving to a plan with old age savings?
Moving from the Short-term plan to the Standard, Plus, or Premium plan gives you:
Cashback system: Enjoy financial rewards for staying healthy on the Standard Plus, or Premium plan with a €0 deductible; something not available in short-term plans.
Comprehensive coverage: These plans include extra preventive care treatments beyond those on the Short-term plan.
Ongoing coverage: These plans have no time limit and fit all visa and residency types, ensuring continuity in your healthcare plan.
Old-age savings: These plans build reserves while you are younger to keep premiums stable as you age. Instead of increasing premiums drastically, a portion of your contributions goes into savings that will offset higher insurance costs later in life. The earlier you switch, the lower your premiums will stay.