Summary
Switching from public to private health insurance in Germany requires applying for private coverage with a start date at least 2 full calendar months ahead, submitting a cancellation notice to your public insurer, and confirming the new private coverage. Some exceptional situations allow different start dates. The process ensures no coverage gap during the switch.
How can I switch from public to private health insurance in Germany?
Choose a start date that is 2 full calendar months from now to comply with the cancellation conditions enforced by your public health provider.
Signing up for private health insurance does not automatically cancel your public coverage.
Step 2: Submit a cancellation notice to your public provider
.. even while your private application is still pending!
Why you should notify your public provider right away:
It starts the two-month notice period that your public provider typically enforces before they allow you to switch.
Your public insurance will only be officially cancelled after they receive confirmation of your new private coverage.
If you withdraw your application or it is not accepted, then your private coverage cannot be confirmed. Your public health coverage will continue without a gap.
Step 3: Forward your confirmation of coverage
... to your public provider once your private policy is confirmed. This letter will be available automatically in your Feather account once we confirm your private coverage.
This step finalizes your cancellation. Your public coverage ends seamlessly when your private coverage begins.
What exceptional cases allow a different start date?
What exceptional cases allow a different start date?
Your public provider typically requires the current month + 2 full calendar months to cancel. However, some exceptions apply:
If you receive a pay raise for the same position in the same company, you must wait until January 1 of the following year to switch.
If you switched to self-employed status, you can backdate private coverage to your self-employment start date within the first 3 months.
If you were publicly insured as a dependent and switched to employment, private coverage can start on your employment start date.
If you were publicly insured as a student and started your first employment, the private coverage start date can also match your employment start date.
If you changed employers, crossing the income threshold for the first time, private coverage can begin when your new job starts, provided you cancel your public insurance within 14 days.
Please send us a message when submitting your application if any of these situations apply to you. To ensure a smooth transition, we need to know if the usual cancellation notice doesn’t apply to your situation.
When in doubt, if you are eligible for a start date exception, reach out to your public provider to confirm your cancellation terms.
How Feather supports you
How Feather supports you
Switching to private insurance can feel overwhelming — we’re here to make it easier!
When you apply with Feather, we offer to handle the cancellation of your public health insurance for you, helping ensure your switch goes smoothly from start to finish.
You'll receive further instructions once submitting your application.
If your public provider claims that you cannot cancel, we'll be happy to handle it.
Feather cannot override the cancellation terms enforced by your public provider.
FAQ
When should I submit my public health cancellation?
When should I submit my public health cancellation?
We recommend submitting your cancellation to your public provider right after you submit your application to private health insurance.
This ensures a smooth transition and allows you to switch as soon as possible.
What happens if I am not accepted to private coverage?
What happens if I am not accepted to private coverage?
Your public coverage will simply continue, even if you have already given notice to cancel your public policy.
Public providers will only officially cancel your coverage if they receive proof of your new private coverage.
What start date should I select?
What start date should I select?
Select a start date two full months away. Here's an example:
If it is currently March 10th, then April and May would be the next two full months. You can switch to private coverage as of June 1.