Losing your job in Germany does not automatically end your Private health insurance (PKV). With Type I unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld I) you can either switch to Public health insurance (GKV), which the job agency pays in full, or keep Private health insurance (PKV) with a job agency contribution of up to €210 per month. With Grundsicherungsgeld — the means-tested benefit that replaced Bürgergeld on 1 July 2026 — you keep Private health insurance (PKV), and the Jobcenter pays a subsidy toward your premium on application. Switching to Public health insurance (GKV) is only possible if you are over 55 and meet specific past-coverage conditions. Deadlines matter: several steps must be completed within 3 months of your first benefit payment.
What happens to my Private health insurance (PKV) if I lose my job in Germany?
When you lose your job in Germany, whether you keep Private health insurance (PKV) or move to Public health insurance (GKV) depends on which unemployment benefit you receive. With Type I unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld I), you can usually choose between switching to Public health insurance (GKV) and keeping Private health insurance (PKV) with a contribution from the job agency (Arbeitsagentur). With Grundsicherungsgeld — the benefit that replaced Bürgergeld on 1 July 2026, previously called Type II unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld II) — you keep Private health insurance (PKV), and your age and your past Public health insurance (GKV) history decide whether switching is possible at all.
Who can receive Type I unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld I) in Germany?
Type I unemployment benefits are paid by the job agency (Arbeitsagentur) when you meet the following conditions:
You are a citizen of the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland, or you hold a valid work permit.
You have made at least 12 months' worth of unemployment insurance contributions within the last 30 months.
Freelancers must have registered for unemployment insurance explicitly in order to qualify.
The job agency can apply additional conditions in individual cases.
How do I switch from Private health insurance (PKV) to Public health insurance (GKV) while receiving Type I unemployment benefits?
While you receive Type I unemployment benefits, the job agency pays your Public health insurance (GKV) contributions in full. Complete the following steps:
Apply for Type I unemployment benefits and ask the job agency to register you with Public health insurance (GKV).
Cancel or pause your Private health insurance (PKV) policy, state that you are a mandatory member of Public health insurance (GKV), and submit your confirmation of coverage.
Submit the cancellation within 3 months of joining Public health insurance (GKV) so that it applies retroactively and the private health insurance premiums you paid since your unemployment began are refunded.
Consider pausing your Private health insurance (PKV) policy instead of canceling it if you expect to return to Private health insurance (PKV) once you find a new job with a salary above the mandatory insurance threshold. Pausing would allow you to rejoin private health insurance without needing a new medical questionnaire. You can request a pause directly from your Feather account.
How do I keep my Private health insurance (PKV) while receiving Type I unemployment benefits?
You must keep Private health insurance (PKV) if you have not had Public health insurance (GKV) at any point in the past 5 years. The job agency then contributes up to €210 per month toward your Private health insurance (PKV) premium. Complete the following steps within 3 months of your first Type I unemployment benefit payment:
Apply for an exemption from compulsory public insurance. Any public health insurance provider can grant this exemption. The quickest route is to fill out this exemption form for unemployed people and send it to [email protected], then forward the response you receive to your contact at the job agency.
Ask the job agency to contribute toward your Private health insurance (PKV) premium. A "confirmation of the payment of contributions according to §174" can be issued if the job agency asks for one.
Confirm once the job agency has approved your exemption and its payment. You can then contact our support team to let us know you've been approved.
The job agency transfers up to €210 per month directly to your insurance provider. If your Private health insurance (PKV) premium is higher than €210 per month, the remaining amount is debited from your bank account as usual.
Who can receive Grundsicherungsgeld and what happens to my Private health insurance (PKV)?
Grundsicherungsgeld replaced Bürgergeld on 1 July 2026 and is the benefit previously called Type II unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld II). It is paid by your local Jobcenter rather than by the job agency (Arbeitsagentur), and it is means-tested, so it does not depend on how long you have been unemployed or on your work history. You can receive Grundsicherungsgeld when all of the following apply:
You are at least 15 years old and have not yet reached retirement age.
Your habitual residence is in Germany.
You are able to work at least 3 hours per day.
Your household cannot cover its basic needs from its own income and assets, and assets above an age-based allowance must be used first.
While you receive Grundsicherungsgeld, your type of coverage does not change: if you have Private health insurance (PKV), you keep Private health insurance (PKV). On application, the Jobcenter pays a subsidy toward your Private health insurance (PKV) premium of up to €508.59 per month in 2026, plus up to €104.63 per month toward private long-term care insurance. The subsidy is paid directly to your insurance provider and does not cover supplementary private health insurance. To request it:
Submit the attachment "Anlage SV" together with your Grundsicherungsgeld application at the Jobcenter.
Provide proof of your current Private health insurance (PKV) premium and of your income.
Apply as early as you can. The subsidy normally starts on the first day of the month in which you apply.
If you are over 55, you may be able to switch to Public health insurance (GKV) instead. Whether you can depends on your Public health insurance (GKV) history over the past 5 years. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.
What happens to my health insurance after I find a new job?
Your options depend on the gross salary of your new job. If your salary is above the annual threshold for compulsory public insurance, you can stay on Private health insurance (PKV), or restart your policy if you paused it while unemployed. If your salary is below that threshold, you become a mandatory member of Public health insurance (GKV) and choose a provider such as TK, AOK, BARMER, or DAK.
You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.