If you want to switch statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenkasse) in Germany, you first need to know the deadlines. The minimum membership period, the notice period and the special right of termination when the additional contribution rises decide when a change takes effect. This guide explains the rules, shows an example with dates and includes a template you can adapt.
Short answer: In statutory health insurance you are bound to your fund for at least twelve months. After that you can cancel with effect from the end of the second calendar month following the notice (section 175 para. 4 SGB V). When you change funds, registration with the new fund replaces the cancellation. Status October 2026.
The most important points
- The minimum membership period with a statutory health insurer is twelve months (section 175 para. 4 sentence 1 SGB V).
- After that, you cancel with effect from the end of the second calendar month after the notice. The month in which you give notice is not counted.
- If you switch to a new fund, the new fund registers you, and this replaces your cancellation.
- If the additional contribution rises, you can cancel up to the end of the month from which the higher contribution applies, and the binding period no longer applies.
- If no new membership begins, the old fund must issue a confirmation of cancellation within two weeks.
When can you cancel? The deadlines at a glance
The statutory rules for cancellation are in section 175 SGB V. The table summarises the four most important situations. You can check the wording at gesetze-im-internet.de.
| Situation | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Member for less than twelve months | Generally bound, cancellation is not possible in this period | Section 175 para. 4 sentence 1 SGB V |
| Normal change after twelve months | Cancellation with effect from the end of the second calendar month | Section 175 para. 4 sentence 3 SGB V |
| Change to a new fund | The registration with the new fund replaces the cancellation | Section 175 para. 4 sentence 4 SGB V |
| Rise of the additional contribution | Cancellation up to the end of the month from which the higher rate applies | Section 175 para. 4 sentence 6 SGB V |
Calculation example: when does your membership end?
The rule about the second calendar month looks complicated at first. The example shows the logic.
- Assumption: You give notice on 10 October 2026, and you have been a member for at least twelve months.
- The next calendar month is November, the month after that is December.
- The cancellation takes effect at the end of 31 December 2026.
A second example: If you give notice on 15 March 2027, the membership ends on 31 May 2027. The month of the notice, March, is not counted. The next month is April, and the month after that is May.
How the switch works in practice
In most cases you do not have to cancel with your old fund yourself. The steps look like this:
- Compare the funds by their additional contribution and the benefits that matter to you.
- Apply to the new fund for membership and state the start date you want.
- The new fund registers you with your old fund. This replaces the cancellation.
- Make sure the membership starts without a gap, so that there is no period without health insurance.
- Keep the confirmation from the old fund and the membership certificate of the new fund.
The order matters. Do not deregister from your old fund before the new membership is confirmed, otherwise a gap in cover can arise. The new fund handles the deregistration with the old one, so you do not have to organise the dates yourself. Still, check in your next payslip whether your employer has updated the fund, and keep all letters from both funds.
You only have to cancel yourself if no new membership begins. In that case the template below will help.
Cancellation template to adapt
Replace all details in square brackets with your own data. A letter or the online portal of your fund is best, so that you can prove when the notice reached the fund.
Sender: First name Last name, street and house number, postcode and town, insurance number [number]
Recipient: [Name of the health insurance fund], [address of the fund]
Subject: Cancellation of my membership
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby cancel my membership with your health insurance fund with effect from [end date]. Please confirm the cancellation and the end of my membership in writing. If I join [new fund] on [date], please send the confirmation to the new fund as well.
Kind regards
[Place, date and signature]
Note: When you change funds, registration with the new fund is usually enough. You need this template mainly if no new membership begins, or if you cancel because the additional contribution has risen. In that case it is better to state the reason explicitly in the letter.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I have no new fund?
The old fund must issue a confirmation of cancellation within two weeks if no new membership is established. The cancellation only takes effect if you prove other health cover within the deadline. Always get the confirmation in writing and keep it.
Can I change funds during the minimum period?
In principle, no. There are exceptions, for example the special right of termination when the additional contribution rises. If you are dissatisfied in the early phase, first check the benefits before you plan a change, because the binding period also applies then.
Do I have to give a reason to my old fund?
A reason is not required for the ordinary cancellation. In the special case of a rise in the additional contribution, the reason is clear, and naming it in the letter helps the fund assign the cancellation. Usually the date and your insurance number are all you need to state.
Does the change cost me anything?
The change itself is usually free of charge for you. Your contribution depends on the additional contribution of the new fund. Compare the contribution rates, not only the advertising promises. The Federal Ministry of Health gives an average of 2.9 percent for 2026 as a guide, but the rate of your fund can differ.
Do contributions get paid twice during the switch?
Usually not. Contributions to statutory health insurance are only payable for one membership, and the fund arranges the deregistration so that no double membership arises. If your account is nevertheless debited twice, claim the amount in writing from the fund that collected it. Keep bank statements and letters as evidence.
What to do now
- Check since when you have been a member and whether the twelve-month binding period has already expired.
- Compare the additional contribution and the benefits of the funds that interest you.
- Register with the new fund and obtain the confirmation before you take any further step.
- Only if no new membership begins: send the cancellation with proof of receipt.
Related reading
- Günstigste Krankenkasse für Studierende 2026
- Gesetzliche Krankenkasse im Studium: Erfahrungen, Kosten, Grenzen (in German)
- PKV oder GKV als Student: Was lohnt sich mehr? (in German)
- Was zahlt die gesetzliche Krankenkasse nicht? Die wichtigsten Lücken (in German)
Sources: Section 175 SGB V, exercise of the right to choose (retrieved October 2026), GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on calculation variables 2026 (status 1 Jan 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
