Since health insurance is mandatory in Germany, you usually cannot pause your private health insurance after signing up. However, in some instances, you can pay a small monthly fee to pause your private health insurance. This is called "Anwartschaftsversicherung" in German.
1. When can I pause my private health insurance?
If you are on a long-term private health insurance plan, you can pause your insurance if any of these circumstances applies to you:
You are moving abroad but wish to move back to Germany in the future.
You were self-employed but recently became employed and earning below the private health insurance threshold. Now you must sign up for public health insurance. However, you hope to rejoin private health insurance in the future.
You are employed, and the income threshold to be privately insured has been increased. Your income is now under the private threshold. While you have to join public health insurance now, you hope to rejoin private health insurance in the future when you get a pay rise and your salary is above the private threshold again.
You lost your job and the job agency pays for your public health insurance. Nevertheless, you hope to rejoin private health insurance in the future when you find a new job and your salary is above the private threshold again.
2. What is the benefit of pausing?
The monthly premium for private health insurance is calculated based on your age and health when you apply for your private health insurance. Pausing your private health insurance instead of cancelling 'freezes' your age and health condition. This allows you to rejoin private health insurance according to your original terms with no health questions asked when you are back in Germany.
Pausing your private health insurance is only a good idea if you are planning to rejoin private health insurance in the future. If, for example, you are not planning to move back to Germany, it will not make sense to pause your private health insurance.
3. How much will it cost to pause my private health insurance?
The monthly cost varies and is based on your current monthly premium. Have more questions?