Paying too much for public health insurance in Germany?
Most expats in Germany overpay for public health insurance for years without realizing there's a better option. Find out in 5 minutes if private insurance saves you money and gets you better care.
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Most people were never told the full picture. We lay out both systems honestly so you can actually compare them.
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Your contribution goes up every time your salary does. And the rate keeps climbing regardless. That adds up fast.
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The income threshold to switch rises every year. Many expats qualify right now and don't know it yet.
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Not gut feeling. Not a sales pitch. Your actual monthly costs, side by side, so you decide with confidence.
Each year you wait, it gets harder to switch.
Germany raises the income threshold to leave public health insurance every single year. Miss it once and you could be locked into GKV until you retire. Most internationals only find out about this rule after the window has already closed for them. By then the only thing left to do is calculate how much it cost them.
Every year that number goes up. Every year the window gets narrower. If your salary doesn't clear the threshold you stay in. No exceptions.
GKV vs PKV. What nobody explains to you when you arrive.
In GKV you pay a percentage of your salary and the system keeps it. In PKV your rate is set when you join, grows at a slower rate, and builds internal reserves that work in your favor as you get older.
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One system is built around solidarity. The other is built around you. Knowing the difference is the first step.
Better service. Faster access. More control.
The difference shows up in the waiting room, at the specialist, and on your dental bill. Private patients move through the German healthcare system differently and that's not a perk. It's how the system is structured.
GKV:
PKV:
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Is private insurance actually right for you?
Switching to PKV is one of the biggest financial decisions you make in Germany. The answer depends on your salary, your family, how long you're staying, and what your retirement looks like. We look at all of it before we say anything.
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The higher your salary, the bigger the gap between what you pay in GKV and what you'd pay in PKV.
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PKV premiums don't pause when your working life ends. This changes the calculation significantly.
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Children need their own PKV policy at an extra monthly cost. For families this can completely flip the financial case.
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Leaving Germany soon? Switching may not make sense. Staying long term? It almost certainly does.
What if you kept that money instead?
Every month you overpay in GKV is money that disappears. It doesn't compound, it doesn't come back. If the gap between GKV and PKV is €300 per month, here's what that same money could look like invested.
How we help you switch. Step by step.
Every conversation happens in English. Every recommendation is built around your situation. We never push you toward a decision that doesn't make sense for you.
Take the free self-check
A few questions about your income, your family, and your plans for Germany. In under 5 minutes you'll know if PKV is worth exploring.
See what the numbers look like for you
Your real monthly cost in PKV next to what you currently pay in GKV. Not an estimate. Your actual numbers.
Talk to someone with no agenda
A licensed, independent advisor with no product to push and no commission target. We tell you honestly what we would do in your position.
We take care of everything
Application, paperwork, handover from GKV to your new provider. You never have to fill in a German form or make a call in a language you're still learning.
The right plan for where your life is going
We compare every relevant PKV provider and recommend the one that fits your health, your budget, and your future. Not the one that pays the most commission.
Meet the people behind your financial clarity
Licensed, independent, and not tied to any insurance company. We built PerFinEx so internationals in Germany could finally get honest financial advice in plain English, without hidden agendas or products pushed for the wrong reasons.
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Partner / Founder of PerFinEx
Partner / Founder of Advicon.tax
Head of Financing
Senior Consultant
Senior Consultant
Consultant
Assistant Consultant
Consultant
You might be overpaying every single month without realizing it. Run the free Self Check and find out in 5 minutes whether switching makes financial sense for your income, your family, and your plans for Germany.
The questions everyone asks before they decide.
Straight answers. No sales pitch.
Who can switch from GKV to PKV?
You need to earn above €73,800 in 2025 with an unlimited work contract. Self employed and civil servants have different rules. The Self Check tells you where you stand in under 5 minutes.
Will PKV actually be cheaper for me?
For most younger expats with higher salaries and no children, yes. GKV charges a percentage of your salary so the more you earn the more you pay. PKV locks in your rate when you join.
What happens if I lose my job or take a pay cut?
If your income drops below the threshold you return to GKV automatically. We always discuss this risk before recommending any switch.
Do my children get covered under my PKV?
No. Each child needs their own separate policy at an extra monthly cost. For families with multiple children this can completely change which system makes more financial sense.
Can I ever go back to GKV?
In most cases no. This is exactly why we take our time to make sure switching is the right long term decision before we ever suggest it.
How long does switching take?
Four to six weeks from first conversation to active policy. We handle all coordination so you always have continuous coverage with no gaps.