Above the salary threshold you become a voluntary GKV member by default. What that costs at the ceiling — and how the real PKV comparison works.
PKV runs on reimbursement: doctors bill you, the insurer pays you back. How the money flow works and how to handle large hospital bills.
Every PKV policy comes with mandatory private long-term care insurance (PPV). What it covers, what it costs and how it compares to the GKV equivalent.
The key PKV figures for 2026 — salary threshold, ceilings — and the trends every policyholder should watch this year.
A practical pre-join checklist for PKV — eligibility, health, benefits, income protection, long-term cost planning and getting advice.
Seven common PKV myths debunked — unaffordable old-age premiums, no way back to GKV, losing all cover, and more.
A simple annual PKV review checklist — premium, benefits, deductible, income protection and tax — to keep your cover optimal each year.
When switching PKV insurer is worth it, why you usually lose most of your ageing reserve, and why an internal §204 switch is often better.
The difference between full private cover (Vollversicherung) and supplementary top-ups (Zusatzversicherung), and who each option suits.
A practical guide to submitting PKV claims: how reimbursement works, what documents you need, insurer apps, and common mistakes to avoid.
How the Basistarif, Standardtarif and Notlagentarif provide capped, guaranteed PKV cover for those who need a safety net.
How general and special waiting periods (Wartezeiten) work in PKV, where they apply, and how a medical exam can waive them.