Private Health Insurance Cologne

PKV eligibility depends on your income, not your employer. If you earn above the Versicherungspflichtgrenze (approximately 77.400 € gross in 2026) consistently, you are eligible regardless of where you work. We check your eligibility and walk you through what the switch would involve.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers temporary stays across the EU but does not fulfil Germany's resident health insurance requirement. Once you establish residency in Cologne, you must enrol in GKV or PKV. Previous insurance from your home country does not carry over. We advise on the right enrolment path based on your employment start date and status.

Yes. XpatGermany advises expats on PKV and GKV entirely in English via remote video call. We work with expats across the Cologne and Rhine region, covering eligibility assessment, PKV vs GKV comparison, and the full application process.

EU expats in Germany face the same GKV/PKV rules as non-EU expats. The key variables are income, employment status, and family situation, not nationality. However, EU citizens who may return to their home country and use health services there should factor in how their German coverage interacts with European reciprocal care agreements.

The main risk is the same across Germany: once you're in PKV as an employee, returning to GKV is very difficult unless your income falls below the threshold. For Cologne expats who are unsure about their long-term plans in Germany, or whose income is variable, this lock-in is the most important factor to evaluate before making a decision.

For employees, no. When you start employment in Germany, you are automatically enrolled in statutory health insurance (GKV), regardless of your previous insurance history. You become eligible to switch to private health insurance once your income has consistently exceeded 77.400 € gross for a full calendar year. Freelancers are the exception: self-employed workers arriving in Cologne can opt for PKV from day one of their self-employment, with no minimum income or waiting period.

It is often the deciding factor. Under GKV, a non-working spouse and all dependent children are insured at no additional cost. Under PKV, each family member requires a separate policy with its own monthly premium. For a couple with two children, this can add 600 to 1,200 euros per month to your total insurance cost. Even when one parent earns well above the eligibility threshold, the family cost often makes GKV the better financial choice overall.

In most cases, no. Private health insurance is most valuable when you have a long German time horizon. Switching involves a health assessment, administrative effort, and an exit process when you leave. For a stay of three to four years, those transition costs generally outweigh the potential premium savings. We cover this as part of the initial eligibility conversation.

Yes. Most PKV plans include enhanced dental coverage as standard or as an optional add-on. Private dental coverage typically reimburses at much higher rates than GKV for fillings, crowns, and orthodontic treatment. The level of dental coverage varies between plans. We compare plans based on the coverage that matters for your specific situation, not just the monthly premium.

Premiums vary by age, health, provider, and coverage level. A healthy person in their early 30s in Cologne can typically find plans in the range of 300 to 600 euros per month for comprehensive coverage. That figure rises with age. GKV costs around 7.3% of gross salary for employees, with the employer paying another 7.3%. We model both cost trajectories over your expected time in Germany before making any recommendation.

Once your eligibility is confirmed and a provider is selected, the switch typically takes four to eight weeks. The longer part is usually the eligibility confirmation itself. Employed expats must have exceeded the Versicherungspflichtgrenze for a full calendar year before they can opt out of GKV. We confirm your eligibility first, then handle the comparison, application, and GKV exit process on your behalf.