If you've ever filled out an application for private health insurance, you know that we're curious by nature. The fact that we ask you some private questions is not just because we want to get to know you better. There are also legal reasons behind it.
What is checked when taking out a private health insurance?
In order to protect the insured group from excessive charges, we conduct a health check - just like any other private health insurance. We also ask you about your salary, because only those who earn more than the annual income threshold (€69,300ƒ) are allowed to take out a private health insurance in Germany. We are also interested in how old you are when you decide to take out a private health insurance.
Contribution factors for privately insured persons
While public health insurance collects a percentage of your salary as a contribution, the private health insurance system has a different calculation basis.
Three factors count here:
- your health condition at entry
- your desired scope of services
- your age at entry
Private health insurance insures you against health risks and charges a contribution that corresponds to your individual risk. A "risk factor" and basis for the calculation is your age of entry.
Why is the age of entry so relevant?
Still the dream of eternal youth is unfulfilled, so we have to face the fact: As we age, the body breaks down and is more susceptible to disease. The older you get, the more likely you are to fall ill.
The higher the age of entry, the higher the risks of an insured person. That's why it's almost impossible to switch to private health insurance after 55. However, this does not mean that your contribution automatically increases with age. That is why private health insurance has developed the age reserves: If you are young and healthy, you pay a little more than necessary to compensate for rising health costs as you get older and into retirement.
Now it's also clear why we generally recommend that you opt for private health insurance as early as possible. The earlier you join, the more ageing provisions you build up. Our savings calculator clearly shows the difference a higher entry age makes.
Determination of the age of entry in private health insurance
You are as old as you are, there is no doubt about that. Nevertheless, there are subtle differences in the private health insurance actuarial age of entry. Private health insurances can use different calculation methods to determine your entry age.