Is your current tariff too expensive or would you like better benefits? Then it's time to think about changing your private health insurance plan also known as tariff change. This can definitely be worthwhile, as tariffs sometimes differ greatly in price despite offering similar benefits. We'll show you how to change your private health insurance plan and what you need to bear in mind - we'll explain it to you!
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There are many reasons why it can be worth changing private health insurance tariffs. In most cases, the needs of the insured person change or the insurer makes adjustments to its tariffs. The following points can speak in favor of a rate change:
If the private health insurance company adjusts its premiums upwards, you have the option of switching immediately, regardless of the minimum contract term. The special right of termination applies here.
You have two options to avoid the tariff increase:
There are ways to save money within private health insurance by reducing benefits, increasing the deductible or switching to a different tariff. According to the consumer protection center, however, as an insured person with full or supplementary insurance, you have the right to switch to a cheaper tariff with the same benefits. In this case, the old-age provisions are generally retained. If you want more benefits or the deductible is to be reduced, a new risk and health check is required and the premium may increase.
If you switch to a very cheap tariff, the benefits are often worse and less provision is made for old age. You should therefore always question bait offers with particularly favorable private health insurance rates!
Switching to another insurance company is not always a good idea. This is because the old-age provisions that have been accumulated over the years cannot be taken with you, or only in part (this is referred to as the transfer value).
In some cases, however, it may be worth changing insurance if you switch to a cheaper tariff whose premium is still lower than the premium increase of your current private health insurance despite the higher entry age. In principle, you should therefore decide as early as possible to switch to a provider with more stable premiums.
Find out in advance: Who offers the most stable premiums and good benefits at the lowest possible cost?
It is often enough to switch to a different insurance plan. If the benefits are lower, there is no need for a health check. It is only necessary if you want to receive more benefits. In any case, the old-age provisions saved are retained. This type of PKV tariff change is possible at any age!
If your current tariff is too expensive or you would like even better benefits, then it can make sense to change tariffs within the company.
You have the legal right (§ 204 VVG) to switch to a similar tariff within the insurance company. Acquired rights remain intact. For example, no risk surcharges have to be paid, even if you are no longer as fit today as when you took out the policy.
However, this only applies if you switch to a tariff with similar benefits. In the case of additional benefits, it is possible that the private health insurance company will demand a risk surcharge. Alternatively, it is possible to exclude benefits for additional services.
The insured person has the right to change tariffs within the PKV free of charge and to transfer the old-age provisions to the new tariff. However, it should be noted that if a tariff with more benefits is chosen, a new health check may be required and the premium costs may also increase.
The first step is to collect as much information as possible. It is therefore advisable to ask the insurance company for a comparison of all possible tariffs - including the benefits and premiums.
To avoid being fobbed off with a limited range of third-class tariffs, the inquiry can be made even more specific. This is particularly important for insurers who have a wide range of tariffs and can only present you with a selection for the sake of clarity.
Now it's time to take a closer look and compare the offers with the current contract. Which benefits are added and which are dropped?
How high is the deductible?
Where do you have to pay more and how much?
How much daily sickness benefit do you receive?
Is a single room in hospital or treatment by the head physician included?
Is naturopathic treatment included?
To what extent is dental treatment covered?
Is it possible to suspend premiums during parental leave?
Are there premium refunds?
It is important that you know your personal needs and financial scope well. This will ensure that important benefits are also covered in the future. It is also possible to arrange a consultation with the private health insurance company.
Which price-performance rate in private health insurance is still optimal?
Many private health insurers offer attractive new customer tariffs to attract more members. They are also open to existing customers!
However, it may also be that the insurance company's existing tariffs have become unattractive overall. For example, because the insurance company has recently accumulated many contracts with people who are sick more often than average.
The high costs then have to be covered by the corresponding collective - the premiums therefore rise more than with other insurance policies.
But it may also be that needs have changed over time. Perhaps a two-bed room in hospital is now enough or you have discovered naturopathy for yourself.
Either way, it is worth reviewing your tariff prophylactically every few years. In the best case scenario, optimizing your health insurance will save you a two- to three-figure sum or you can significantly improve your private health insurance benefits.
According to the latest Kubus study*, ottonova is once again one of the best-rated insurance companies:
Highest customer satisfaction compared to other insurance companies - for the third year in a row!
Highest satisfaction with the price-performance ratio of our tariffs
1st place in the ottonova customer care and service categories
Highest customer satisfaction in the event of a claim
According to the results, no private health insurance company is recommended more often by its customers than ottonova!
Most private health insurers adhere to the guidelines for changing tariffs. This means that they advise customers wishing to switch personally and respond to corresponding inquiries within the next 15 working days. They also suggest cheaper tariff alternatives to customers over 55 on their own initiative.
Switching to a future-proof and price-stable private health insurer can be worthwhile in the long term if the rates with your insurer have become too expensive overall or if you lack important benefits in the rates of your current private health insurance. A lack of service can also lead to dissatisfaction with your current private health insurance.
It is worth analyzing the market and switching insurers, especially if you are young and in good health. Background: When switching, a health check is due at the new insurer, which can be accompanied by risk surcharges. It should also be taken into account in the calculation that some of the old-age provisions saved will be lost when changing insurer. A change should therefore be carefully considered, especially if you already have a long contract term.
If your current private health insurance company increases its premiums, it may be worth switching to another private health insurance provider. All tariffs are open to you when you switch.
Safe future: Independent of demographic developments and therefore lower risk of premium adjustments
Stable contributions in old age: Pay more today to reduce the contribution in old age (via old-age provisions and bookable additional components)
Individual deductible: Freely selectable deductible for treatment costs to reduce the premium amount
Control over benefits: Benefits can always be adjusted in the event of premium adjustments
Contractually defined benefits: In contrast to statutory health insurance, benefits are not removed
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