Why an Annual Review Pays Off
Private health insurance (private Krankenversicherung, PKV) is a long-term relationship, and like any long-term arrangement it benefits from an occasional check-up. A short annual review — ideally when your premium statement arrives — ensures your cover still fits your life, your premium is competitive within your insurer, and you are claiming every benefit and tax advantage available. It rarely takes more than half an hour.
The goal: not to switch insurer every year, but to keep your existing policy optimal — right cover, sensible deductible, full use of benefits, and correct tax treatment.
The Checklist
| Check | Ask yourself |
|---|---|
| Premium | Has it risen? Are cheaper §204 tariffs available with my insurer? |
| Cover | Do my benefits still match my life (family, health, work)? |
| Deductible | Is my excess still right for my claims and finances? |
| Income protection | Does my Krankentagegeld still match my income? |
| Tax | Did I claim my deductible premiums as Vorsorgeaufwendungen? |
Premium and Tariff
If your premium has increased, ask your insurer whether a §204 internal switch to a comparable but cheaper tariff is available — this keeps your full ageing reserve. Resist the urge to jump to a new company over a single increase; internal optimisation is almost always the better move.
Cover and Life Changes
Life events should prompt a cover review: a new baby (arrange Kindernachversicherung within two months), marriage, a move abroad (consider an Anwartschaft), a change of job, or going freelance (add or adjust Krankentagegeld). Make sure your policy reflects where you are now, not where you were when you signed up.
Income Protection and Deductible
As your income grows, your daily sickness benefit should grow with it, or a long illness could leave a gap. And if your financial cushion or claims pattern has changed, reconsider your deductible — raising it to save premium, or lowering it if a high excess no longer suits you.
Tax and Benefits
Finally, make sure you actually used your benefits: did you take your deductible-exempt preventive check-ups, and did you enter your deductible PKV premiums on your tax return? These are easy wins that many policyholders forget. A quick annual pass captures them every year.
Make It a Habit
Put a recurring reminder in your calendar to run this checklist when your premium statement lands. Thirty minutes a year keeps your PKV aligned with your life, your premium under control, and every benefit and deduction claimed — the simplest way to get the most from private cover over the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
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