Change private health insurance and save?
Experts warn against risky cheap offers
Updated December 9, 2025 – 5:35 a.mReading time: 1 min.
Many PKV insured people are hoping for quick savings by changing their tariff after premium increases. But this can turn out to be an expensive trap.
The background: a tariff optimizer receives more commission, the higher the supposed monthly savings for the insured person are. As a result, tariffs are often recommended that significantly reduce the premium, but do not provide good long-term protection.
It could be that insured people receive fewer benefits and end up paying more. For example, through deductibles of more than a thousand euros per year. Some tariffs only reimburse the standard maximum rate in the fee schedule, although many doctors are allowed to bill higher amounts.
When changing tariffs, you should not only pay attention to the price, but also to the services. According to consumer advocates, those who save on contributions do not necessarily have to accept benefit restrictions. Anyone wanting to change should be well informed and not be put off by the insurance company.
By the way: Switching to another private health insurance company is often not advisable, according to the experts. Because you are a new customer there. The tariffs are often significantly more expensive because you are older and therefore there are possible risk surcharges. And you may lose some or all of your retirement savings.
