An Easy Route to PKV
Lawyers and notaries reach private health insurance more readily than most. A self-employed lawyer is a Freiberufler, free to choose PKV from the start regardless of income. An employed lawyer at a firm or in-house can switch once their salary passes the annual income threshold, which many do relatively early in their careers.
The Professional Pension Angle
Lawyers belong to a professional pension scheme (Rechtsanwaltsversorgung) rather than the statutory pension. That is a separate matter from health insurance, but it reinforces the point that a lawyer’s cover sits largely outside the standard employee system. Health insurance is a distinct decision, made on your income route and your health.
Self-employed from day one: a freelance lawyer can take PKV immediately, without waiting to cross any threshold. The choice then rests on health, tariff quality and long-term premium planning rather than on eligibility.
What to Weigh
- Income stability: a self-employed lawyer should add a daily sickness benefit, since there is no employer to continue pay during illness.
- Health assessment: your terms depend on your medical history, so a clean, honest application matters.
- Long-term premium: plan for premiums continuing into retirement, and consider a relief tariff.
- Comprehensive cover: choose on benefits and increase history rather than the cheapest entry premium.
For an employed lawyer weighing the switch, the timing of crossing the threshold and the health assessment are the two levers. A broker can model the move against staying in GKV before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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