How to Cancel Private Health Insurance in Germany?

Understand the process of terminating the private health insurance contract in Germany. Explore key insights into canceling your health insurance contract, notice period, how to terminate the contract, etc. Know in which situations the health insurance provider can cancel your contract.

Key takeaways

• You can cancel the private health insurance policy by giving a three-month notice before the end of the insurance year.
• In special situations like an increase in insurance premium, you can cancel the contract within two months after receiving the letter.
• Switching private health insurance providers to reduce the monthly premium is not the best option. You can learn more about reducing private health insurance costs in our guide.
• Private health insurance companies can terminate your contract if you breach the contract terms or provide misleading information when applying.
• You can cancel the private health insurance contract immediately upon leaving Germany permanently. You must submit the de-registration certificate as proof.

This is how you do it

• Send a written cancellation request to your health insurer via registered post.
• Explicitly mention in the letter that you want to terminate the contract.
• Write the “termination of health insurance contract” letter in German. You can download a free sample letter here.
• You must submit proof of the new health insurance to your current insurer. Without valid proof, your termination of the health insurance contract is invalid.
• Consult an insurance broker, fee-based advisor, or consumer advice center for personalized advice.

Table of contents

How do you cancel a private health insurance policy in Germany?

You can cancel the private health insurance policy by sending a written cancellation request to your insurance provider. You must provide a three-month notice to the end of the insurance year (§205 VVG).

The “insurance year” is usually the “calendar year” for most health insurance companies. But for some insurers, the “insurance year” differs from the “calendar year.” Thus, check your insurance contract to confirm.

Suppose your insurance company follows the normal calendar year. Then, the deadline by which the insurer must receive the written cancellation request is 30th September. 

NOTE: If you have a minimum insurance period (Mindestvertragsdauer) in your health insurance contract, you can only cancel the contract once this period is over. 

We recommend sending the notice of termination via registered post. Also, it’s better to write the letter in German.

You don’t speak German. No worries, we’ve got you covered. We have written a sample private health insurance cancellation letter. You can download it here for free.

NOTE: German law requires every resident in Germany to have a valid health insurance policy (§5 SGB V). You cannot cancel the old policy without proof of a valid new policy.

Thus, to cancel your health insurance policy, you must prove the following to your current insurer.

• You have a new German health insurance policy.
• You’ll remain insured without interruption. 

What should you mention in the private health insurance cancellation letter?

Mention the following information explicitly in the letter.

• Your insurance number
• Explicitly mention the term “termination (Kündigung in German)” (Az. 2 O 209/11)
• When do you want to cancel the contract? Usually, it’s as soon as possible.
• Your signature
• Proof of the new insurance policy (“Mitgliedsbescheinigung” from a public health insurer or an “Aufnahmebestätigung” from a private health insurer)
• If leaving Germany permanently, the de-registration certificate (Abmeldebestätigung)

Tip: Keep a copy of the signed cancellation letter and the postal tracking receipt.

Special right to cancel private health insurance in Germany

You cancel the private health insurance contract by giving a three-month written notice to the end of the insurance year ( §205 VVG). However, there are situations where you have a special right to cancel your contract. These are

1. You are required to be compulsorily insured with statutory health insurance. For example, your salary went below the minimum income threshold, which is 73,800€ (as of 2025) (2026: 77,400€).
2. You can be insured in the public healthcare system via free family health insurance.
3. You have a permanent right to medical care from your employer. For example, as a soldier, police officer, or correctional officer.
4. Your private health insurer increased the insurance premium.
5. Leaving Germany permanently

#1 Subject to compulsory public health insurance

If you become subject to compulsory statutory health insurance (GKV) again, you cancel your private health insurance without notice (§ 6 Abs. 1 SGB V).

Employees are subject to compulsory public health insurance when their annual salary falls below the income limit, i.e., 73,800€ (as of 2025) (2026: 77,400€).

There are two cases you should be aware of.

Case 1: Cancelling within three months of switching to public insurance

You can cancel the private insurance plan retroactively for up to three months (§ 205 Abs. 2 VVG). It means you can receive a refund of up to 3 months of private health insurance premiums if you were insured with public insurance during the same period.

Your private health insurer will request proof of compulsory insurance. You must submit the proof within two months of this request. 

Case 2: Cancelling after three months of switching to public insurance

Suppose you cancel your private health insurance more than three months after switching to a public health insurance provider. In this case, retroactive cancellation is not possible.

Your private health insurance contract will cancel at the end of the month in which you provide proof of new insurance coverage.

Different ways to return to public health insurance in Germany ->

Best public health insurance in Germany ->

We find TK the best public health insurance provider for expats. It offers its website, mobile app, and customer support in English.

You can register with TK online for free in 2 minutes using our “TK registration service.“

Example:

Suppose you become eligible for public health insurance on 1st Feb. and switch to a public insurer. In this case, you can cancel your private health insurance up until April 31st, retroactively to Feb. 1st.

If you cancel your private health insurance contract in May, you can leave the private insurer by 30th May. However, retroactive cancellation is not possible.

NOTE: Without the proof of new health insurance you cannot cancel your current private health insurance.

#2 Eligible for free family insurance

Cancelling private health insurance when switching to family insurance works in the same way as switching to public health insurance.

• You can cancel your private health insurance without notice (§ 10 SGB V).
• You can cancel the private insurance retroactively for up to 3 months.
• Retroactive cancellation is not possible if you cancel after 3 months.

When are you eligible for free family insurance in Germany ->

#3 Entitled to free medical care

You can cancel your private health insurance contract without notice if you are entitled to medical care from your employer.

For example, the state covers the healthcare costs of soldiers, police officers, etc. Thus, they don’t need a private health insurance policy of their own. 

Notice period and deadlines

• You can cancel the private insurance retroactively for up to 3 months after entering civil service.
• Retroactive cancellation is not possible if you cancel after 3 months. In this case, the contract will be terminated at the end of the month. It’s the month in which you submit the proof of entitlement to medical care.

#4 The insurer increased the premiums

You can cancel the private health insurance tariff within two months after receiving the premium increase letter (§ 205 Abs. 4 SGB V). Your health insurance contract ends at the point at which the higher premium would be due. 

NOTE: You must provide proof of your new health insurance coverage to the current health insurance provider. Without proof of valid German health insurance, you cannot cancel your current insurance policy (§ 205 Abs. 6 VVG).

Changing your private health insurance provider is not recommended. You’ll learn more about it later.

#5 Leaving Germany permanently

If you leave Germany permanently, you can immediately cancel the health insurance policy. German law requires everyone living in Germany to have health insurance. As soon as you leave Germany, the law doesn’t apply anymore. 

Attach the de-registration certificate (Abmeldebestätigung) when you submit the cancellation request. The de-registration certificate is proof that you are leaving Germany.

Submit the cancellation request in writing. We recommend canceling the insurance contract well in advance to ensure a smooth termination process.

What should you consider while canceling the private health insurance policy?

• Ensure you have signed the policy with the new insurer before canceling with your old insurer. Suppose you cancel the current insurance policy and the new insurer suddenly asks for a higher risk premium or reduces the health insurance coverage; then you’ll be in a tricky situation.
• Switching private health insurance providers is not the best move to reduce your health insurance premiums. Instead, you can switch to a different tariff that your current insurer offers.
• Your contract cancellation is invalid if you don’t submit proof of being insured by a new insurer without interruption (§205 VVG).
• Suppose you switch to public health insurance. In this case, you cannot transfer your aging reserves to public insurance. So, to avoid losing your aging reserves, you can convert your old private health insurance policy into supplementary health insurance. This way, the retirement provision you built over the years covers the costs of supplementary insurance. So, you can enjoy the benefits of private health insurance while in the public health system without losing your retirement provision.
• Suppose you want to keep your option to return to private health insurance open. For example, you are switching to pubic health insurance temporarily. In this case, you can take out “Expectancy/Entitlement insurance (An­wart­schafts­ver­si­che­rung).” With expectancy insurance, you pay a reduced monthly premium and retain the option to return to your original tariff. The benefit of expectancy insurance is that you don’t need a complete health checkup when you return. Moreover, you can return to private insurance at the old cost and services (§ 204 Absatz 5 VVG). 

NOTE: You must consider taking entitlement insurance only if you are sure to return to the private health insurance system. It’s because expectancy insurance doesn’t offer any health insurance benefits. It only locks your old tariff and retains the retirement provisions.

What are the components of a private health insurance premium? ->

We recommend consulting an insurance broker before making the switch.

Is changing your private health insurance provider worth it?

Switching to a different private health insurance provider is not worth it for the following reasons.

• You lose a large part of your saved retirement provisions (around 30%). In other words, you can transfer 70% of your old-age provisions (Altersrückstellungen) to the new private health insurance provider.
• The new health insurer calculates the insurance contribution amount based on your current age and health. Thus, the new policy leads to higher premiums. This is because your health deteriorates as you age.
• Individuals who concluded private health insurance contracts before 2009 will lose all their retirement provisions after the switch (§ 204 Abs. 1 VVG). 

Changing your tariff with the same insurance provider is better for reducing premiums. You don’t need a new health check, and you retain your retirement provisions.

Different ways to reduce private health insurance costs ->

When does changing private health insurance providers make sense?

In the following situations, it makes sense to change your private health insurance provider.

• You have been with the private health insurance provider for only a few years. So, you won’t lose much of your retirement provisions. You can also ask your insurance provider how much retirement provision you have saved so far.
• You are unhappy with the private health insurance company. In this case, you must evaluate if losing part of the retirement provision is worth the change.

Suppose you decide to switch to a different private health insurance company. In this case, refer to our checklist to ensure your new policy covers all the essential medical services.

We recommend consulting an insurance broker before making the switch. Take our checklist with you during your consultation.

Ask the broker to update and sign the checklist after the consultation. This will serve as your written proof if you believe you didn’t receive the best advice.

When can the German private health insurance company cancel my insurance policy?

Since 2009, everyone in Germany has been legally obliged to have a health insurance policy. Thus, private health insurance companies aren’t allowed to terminate a policyholder’s contract without good cause (§ 206 VVG).

The insurer cannot terminate the policyholder’s contract even when the insured can no longer afford the monthly insurance premiums. Instead, the insured person is placed on the emergency tariff. 

However, there are two situations where the private health insurance provider has the right to terminate.

1. Falsifying the information at the time of application
2. Breaching contract terms

NOTE: If your private health insurer cancels your contract, it’s tough for you to get private insurance from another provider. So, your only option in this case will be to get a basic tariff. Private health insurers cannot reject customers on the basic tariff ( Section 193 Para. 5 VVG ).

1. Falsifying the information on the health insurance application form

Intentionally

The health insurance company can terminate the contract if you intentionally provide false information while applying. In the worst-case scenario, your contract may be canceled retroactively. It means you may have to pay back the health insurance benefits you have received so far.

NOTE: The insurance company can contest the contract’s validity in the first ten years after the contract is concluded (§ 21 Abs. 3 VVG).

Negligently

Even if you negligently provided misleading information, the insurer can cancel your contract. However, the insurer can only cancel the contract if they had not previously concluded the contract had they known the correct information.

In this case, the health insurer can contest the contract’s validity within the first five years after it is concluded.

Suppose your private health insurer cancels the contract because you negligently provided false information. In this case, you don’t have to pay back the insurance benefits.

Your insurance company may offer an alternative to canceling the contract. These are demanding a higher premium or excluding risks from the cover.

2. Breaching the health insurance contract’s terms and conditions

The health insurance provider can terminate your insurance policy if you breach the terms of the contract (case IV ZR 50/11). Here are some examples of breaching general insurance conditions.

• You are falsifying the medical bills.
• You obtain health insurance benefits fraudulently, for example, a false sick day certificate.

In the breach of contract terms, the health insurance company can cancel your policy immediately without notice.

Who can help if a private insurance company cancels your contract?

The consequences of a private health insurance company canceling your contract are severe. Moreover, the line between malice, intent, and negligence is blurry.

Therefore, you should consult a lawyer specializing in insurance law (Versicherungrechts). If you have legal insurance, it will cover the legal costs.

You can also contact an insurance ombudsman for free.

FAQs

References

• https://www.finanztip.de/pkv/pkv-kuendigung/
• https://www.americanexpress.com/de-de/kampagnen/guide/versicherungen/private-krankenversicherung/private-krankenversicherung-kuendigen-2139
• https://www.verivox.de/private-krankenversicherung/kuendigen/
• https://gesund.bund.de/en/switching-health-insurance-provider
• https://www.bafin.de/EN/Verbraucher/Versicherung/Produkte/Kranken/krankenversicherung_node_en.html