Switching from Public health insurance to Private health insurance in Germany takes 3 steps: apply for Private health insurance (PKV) with a start date at least 2 full calendar months ahead, send a cancellation notice to your public health provider, and forward your confirmation of coverage once your private policy is confirmed. Your public health provider only cancels your coverage after receiving proof of your new Private health insurance, so there is no gap if your application is withdrawn or declined. A few exceptional situations allow an earlier start date. When you apply with us, we offer to handle the cancellation of your Public health insurance for you.
How do I switch from Public health insurance to Private health insurance in Germany?
Switching takes 3 steps, and your Public health insurance stays active until your new Private health insurance is confirmed.
Apply for Private health insurance (PKV) and choose a start date at least 2 full calendar months ahead. Applying for Private health insurance does not automatically cancel your Public health insurance.
Send a cancellation notice to your public health provider, even while your private application is still pending. This starts the notice period your public health provider requires before you can switch.
Forward your confirmation of coverage to your public health provider once your Private health insurance policy is confirmed. This letter becomes available automatically in your Feather account once we confirm your private coverage, and it finalizes the cancellation so your public coverage ends as your private coverage begins.
What start date should I choose when switching to Private health insurance?
Choose a start date that falls after the current month plus 2 full calendar months, because that is the notice period your public health provider typically enforces. For example, if today is March 10, the next 2 full calendar months are April and May, so your Private health insurance can start on June 1.
This calculation only applies if your situation is not one of the exceptional cases outlined below that set a different start date.
When should I send my cancellation notice to my public health provider?
Send the cancellation notice to your public health provider right after you submit your Private health insurance application, rather than waiting for the application to be approved. Sending it early has 2 effects:
It starts the 2-month notice period your public health provider enforces before allowing the switch, so you can move to Private health insurance as soon as possible.
It carries no risk, because your public health provider only cancels your coverage once they receive confirmation of your new Private health insurance.
What happens if my Private health insurance application is not accepted?
Your Public health insurance continues without a gap, even if you have already sent your cancellation notice. Public health providers only cancel coverage once they receive proof of new Private health insurance coverage. The same applies if you withdraw your Private health insurance application before it is confirmed.
What exceptional cases allow a different Private health insurance start date?
Your public health provider normally requires the current month plus 2 full calendar months to cancel, but the following situations allow a different start date:
If you receive a pay raise in the same position at the same company, you must wait until January 1 of the following year to switch to Private health insurance.
If you switched to self-employed status, your Private health insurance coverage can be backdated to your self-employment start date within the first 3 months.
If you were publicly insured as a dependent and then started employment, your Private health insurance coverage can start on your employment start date.
If you were publicly insured as a student and started your first employment, your Private health insurance coverage can also start on your employment start date.
If you changed employers and crossed the income threshold for the first time, your Private health insurance coverage can begin when your new job starts, provided you cancel your Public health insurance within 14 days of your new employment start date.
Contact our support team when you submit your application if any of these situations apply to you, so we know that the usual cancellation notice period does not apply to your case.
Does the 2-month notice period still apply if an exceptional situation allows a different start date?
No. When one of the exceptional situations applies, that situation sets your start date, and the current month plus 2 full calendar months is not added on top of it. The 2-month notice period applies only to standard switches where no exceptional situation applies.
Can Feather cancel my Public health insurance for me?
When you apply for Private health insurance with us, we offer to handle the cancellation of your Public health insurance for you. You receive instructions on this once you submit your application. If your public health provider claims that you cannot cancel, we can take that over as well. We cannot override the cancellation terms your public health provider enforces. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.