What's the cheapest private health insurance in Germany?

Entry-level HanseMerkur tariffs for a young, healthy single can dip below €400/month gross and still include comprehensive core cover. Employees pay roughly half of that after the employer share.

Not automatically. Over 30 years, an insurer with a conservative increase record usually beats a slightly cheaper entry price. The good news: some insurers offer both a low entry premium and repricing discipline. If quality matters more than the entry price, start with the best private health insurance by profile.

Comprehensive cover for a healthy 30-year-old runs roughly €380 to €710 gross per month depending on the tariff level. Employees get about half paid back by their employer. Our cost guide breaks down every factor.

For high earners, often yes. Public health insurance costs a high-earning employee around €650/month in 2026. A comparable private tariff frequently costs less at entry and covers more. The long-term answer depends on the tariff, which is why we compare both over 30 years.

Employees earning above €77,400 gross per year (2026), self-employed professionals from around €40,000 annual income, and civil servants. Below the threshold, employees stay in public health insurance. Our eligibility check tells you in two minutes.

Counter-intuitively, premium tariffs from insurers with strong repricing discipline often work out cheapest long-term for high-earning singles, despite higher entry premiums.

Moving from €0 to a €600 to €1,200 annual deductible cuts the gross premium noticeably. If you rarely see a doctor, you come out ahead. Note for employees: your employer shares the premium, not the deductible.

Children get their own policy in private health insurance, and child premiums are comparatively low for full private benefits, including better dental and hospital cover. With several children the public route can still win on price, so for families we calculate both before recommending anything.

They rise, but aging reserves built from day one are designed to flatten the curve, and insurers with conservative repricing have kept increases moderate for decades. You can also switch to a cheaper tariff at the same insurer at any time under § 204 VVG.

In 2026 BKK firmus is the cheapest Krankenkasse open nationwide with a 2.18% Zusatzbeitrag (16.78% total rate), followed by TUI BKK (2.50%), hkk (2.59%), Audi BKK (2.60%) and TK (2.69%). The average Zusatzbeitrag is 2.90%. Because every public Krankenkasse covers the same statutory benefits, switching to a cheaper one saves up to about €200 a year on a €5,000 salary without losing cover. Our ranking of the best and cheapest public health insurance lists every nationwide Krankenkasse.