A Anwartschaft in German private health insurance (PKV) is a dormant contract that keeps the option of switching to private cover later without a new health check. Before the traineeship (Referendariat), it matters mainly if you expect to become a civil servant after training and your health is good today.
In short: An Anwartschaft keeps a PKV contract dormant, so that you can switch to private cover after appointment as a civil servant without a new health check. It pays off mainly if you are healthy now and private cover later becomes likely. Whether it is worth it depends on the premium, the contract terms and your life plans (Last updated: October 2026).
The key points
- An Anwartschaft is dormant and secures a later switch to PKV, usually without a new health check.
- Civil servants on probation in their traineeship are generally exempt from statutory health insurance and receive Beihilfe (state health benefit), so they need their own cover.
- The Anwartschaft has its own premiums and conditions. Ask specific questions before you commit.
- Before the traineeship it pays off mainly if you are healthy and private cover later is likely.
- If you stay in statutory health insurance permanently, you do not need an Anwartschaft.
What is an Anwartschaft in PKV?
An Anwartschaft is a reserved place. The contract remains in force, but the cover does not run. You pay an Anwartschaft premium, which is usually well below the premium of an active contract. Its real value lies in the fact that your health status at signing remains the reference point for a later switch.
Terms differ between tariffs and providers. Our glossary entry on the Anwartschaft (in German) gives a short definition, and the guide for students (in German) covers the student perspective.
Why does the question arise before the traineeship?
The reason lies in insurance law. Under section 6 (1) no. 2 of the Social Code Book V (SGB V), civil servants entitled to continued pay and Beihilfe are exempt from statutory health insurance. During the traineeship this applies to civil servants on probation, provided the state uses this status. You are then not covered by statutory insurance and must arrange your own cover.
The University of Münster explains in its information sheet on pay and insurance for trainee teachers in North Rhine-Westphalia (last updated November 2025) that civil servants on probation need their own health insurance, because family cover through parents or a spouse does not apply. There, Beihilfe covers 50 percent of medical costs and the private policy covers the rest. Other states may differ.
This is where the Anwartschaft comes in. Typically you take out the contract during your studies or before the traineeship, leave it dormant and activate it on appointment as a civil servant. This locks in your health status from today, before career entry makes the switch necessary.
When does an Anwartschaft make sense?
An Anwartschaft is not a compulsory product. It suits some situations well and others not at all. An honest assessment of your own situation helps.
It is more likely to pay off if
- you are healthy today and might otherwise face a pre-existing condition that complicates a new health check.
- you are very likely to be appointed as a civil servant and want private cover afterwards.
- you need to bridge the period until appointment and want to keep the tariff you would later use open.
It is less likely to pay off if
- you will stay in statutory health insurance permanently.
- appointment as a civil servant is uncertain and the premium would run for years without use.
- the conditions for reactivation are unclear or limited to a short period.
What should you check before signing?
Put these questions in writing before you sign. The answers decide whether the Anwartschaft fits your situation.
- How high the Anwartschaft premium is and whether it changes with age or tariff adjustments.
- Until when reactivation is possible without a new health check.
- Which tariff applies after activation and whether a tariff change is possible.
- Whether the benefits after reactivation match the benefits you would get today.
- How the Anwartschaft is treated if you stay in statutory insurance after all.
What happens on appointment as a civil servant?
On appointment, Beihilfe becomes central. It covers part of the costs depending on your state and family status, and private cover fills the rest. Whether the dormant contract can be activated without a new check depends on the terms and often on the date of appointment.
As an example, the University of Münster information sheet describes an open-enrolment offer: the risk surcharge is at most 30 percent of the tariff cost contribution, and there are no benefit exclusions. The offer can be used only once and must be taken up within six months of appointment at most (last updated November 2025). This is one example of a single offer. Such offers change and are not general rules, so check current terms before you sign.
Does it pay off in the end?
It cannot be answered in general terms. A useful comparison covers three scenarios: you stay in statutory health insurance; you are appointed and your health has not changed; or you are appointed after your health has deteriorated.
The Anwartschaft pays off mainly in the third scenario, because your health status from earlier applies. As a benchmark, estimate what a later refusal or a high risk surcharge would cost, and set that amount against the Anwartschaft premium.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take out an Anwartschaft without a later appointment as a civil servant?
That depends on the offer. Conditions differ, so ask in the application or in advice. What matters is then the requirement for reactivation.
Do I have to pay for an Anwartschaft if I stay in statutory insurance?
No. If you remain permanently in statutory health insurance, you do not need an Anwartschaft. Statutory contributions depend on your income, not on a private contract.
Does the Anwartschaft replace health insurance cover?
No. An Anwartschaft is not active cover. While the contract is dormant, you are not insured under it. Until reactivation you need other cover, for example through statutory health insurance.
How long can I keep an Anwartschaft?
The period depends on the contract. Ask specifically until when reactivation is possible without a new health check, and whether that changes if the tariff is adjusted.
What to do next
- Find out whether you will be appointed as a civil servant on probation in your state and how Beihilfe is regulated there.
- Get a written statement on premium, reactivation and deadlines before you sign.
- Compare the Anwartschaft with staying in statutory insurance until appointment, and calculate both scenarios.
- If you have pre-existing conditions, get separate advice, because the health check decides the value of the Anwartschaft in that case.
- If you are unsure, get personal advice. Academycon offers a personal consultation on these questions.
Related guides
- Anwartschaft in PKV: when it pays off for students (in German)
- Glossary: Anwartschaft in PKV (in German)
- Health insurance during the traineeship (in German)
- Beihilfe during the traineeship (in German)
- Teacher as civil servant or employee
Sources: Information sheet on pay and insurance during the traineeship, University of Münster (last updated November 2025); section 6 SGB V, exemptions (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
