A PKV tariff change within the same insurer is your legal right. Under section 204 VVG you can switch to other tariffs with similar cover at your insurer, and accrued rights as well as the ageing provision are credited. If the new tariff offers more than the old one, the insurer may apply a benefit exclusion or a reasonable risk surcharge for this additional cover. If you are not yet privately insured, you will find the starting point in our guide on switching to PKV as a student (in German).
PKV tariff change at a glance
- You are entitled to switch with your own insurer to tariffs with similar cover.
- Accrued rights and the ageing provision are credited.
- For additional cover, the insurer may demand a benefit exclusion or a risk surcharge and, where applicable, a waiting period. A reduction in your deductible also counts as additional cover.
- Following the guidelines of the PKV Association, insurers should answer change requests within 15 working days.
What rights do you have when changing tariffs within the same insurer?
The insurer must name tariffs that offer similar cover. When you switch, you take with you the rights you have already acquired, including the ageing provision. Our guide on ageing provisions in PKV (in German) explains what the provision is for.
The guidelines of the PKV Association set one limit: A switch from gender-neutral to gender-specific tariffs is excluded. The tariff change guidelines are a voluntary commitment of the member companies, as of July 2022.
What counts as additional cover, and what follows from it?
| Situation | Consequence of the tariff change |
|---|---|
| New tariff with similar cover | Switch with accrued rights and the ageing provision credited |
| New tariff with additional cover | Benefit exclusion or reasonable risk surcharge, possibly a waiting period |
| Deductible is reduced | Counts as additional cover |
| Surcharge or waiting period unwanted | Avoidable by excluding the additional cover |
The consequences therefore relate to the part of the tariff that goes beyond your previous cover. For example, you have a tariff with a high deductible and want to lower it because your budget now allows it. The insurer may then demand a surcharge or an exclusion, and you decide whether you would rather give up the additional cover (benefit exclusion) to avoid the surcharge and waiting period.
What does a tariff change cost, and when is it worthwhile?
The costs result from the premium of the new tariff and a possible risk surcharge for additional cover. Whether one-off fees apply is stated in the tariff conditions and in the insurer’s reply. Request all items in writing before you decide.
For students, three reasons are common: The premium has risen, the deductible no longer fits your financial situation, or your Beihilfe entitlement ends. For children of people entitled to Beihilfe, it generally ends when the entitlement to the family supplement or child benefit lapses, often at the age of 25. The exact rules differ between employers, so it is worth checking the Beihilfe rules of your employer. Your own share of the premium can then rise noticeably. How to respond to an increase is explained in our article on PKV premium adjustments (in German).
How does a tariff change work?
- Define your goal: A lower premium, a different deductible or different benefits.
- Send a request to your insurer and ask for tariffs with similar cover.
- Wait for the reply: Under the guidelines, insurers should respond within 15 working days.
- Compare the offers by premium, scope of benefits, surcharges, exclusions and waiting periods.
- Decide and have the change confirmed in writing.
When comparing offers, our checklist for finding the right PKV tariff (in German) and our overview of PKV tariffs for students compared (in German) can help. Points to check are reimbursement rates (common levels are 75, 90 or 100 per cent, often with maximum amounts), the list of aids (open or closed) and the deductible.
Is the basic tariff a possible target of a tariff change?
For people who are already privately insured, switching to the basic tariff is subject to additional conditions, for example from age 55, when drawing a pension, or when receiving social assistance or basic security benefits. Our article basic tariff or comfort tariff (in German) shows what separates the basic tariff from other levels.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose my ageing provision when I change tariffs?
No. When you switch within the same insurer under section 204 VVG, accrued rights and the ageing provision are credited. This applies to tariffs with similar cover. For additional cover, the insurer may demand a benefit exclusion or a reasonable risk surcharge.
Do I have to answer health questions for a tariff change?
For the cover you already have, your accrued rights remain preserved, so you need no new health assessment for it. The law links the risk surcharge, benefit exclusion and waiting period to the additional cover in the new tariff. Because a risk surcharge is tied to the risk, the insurer may ask you for health information for the additional cover. Which information it requires will be stated in its reply to your request.
How quickly must the insurer reply?
Under the voluntary guidelines of the PKV Association, requests should be answered within 15 working days. This is a voluntary commitment by the member companies, not a statutory deadline.
Is a lower deductible treated as additional cover?
Yes. If you lower your deductible, you receive more reimbursement in the event of a claim, and the insurer may demand a benefit exclusion or a reasonable risk surcharge for this. A higher deductible generally lowers the premium.
So what should you do now
- Check your policy document for your current tariff and your deductible.
- Write to your insurer about your goal with the change and ask for tariffs with similar cover.
- Note the date of your request and allow 15 working days.
- Decide only after you have written offers that state premium, surcharges, exclusions and waiting periods.
If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the way to advice on the Academycon homepage.
You can read about our work on ProvenExpert, Trustlocal and Trustindex. Academycon was mentioned, among other places, in a report in VersicherungsJournal. An overview of all mentions is on the press page.
Related reading
- Saving PKV premiums: What helps students with an existing policy (in German)
- PKV premium development: Why premiums rise and what helps (in German)
- PKV premium refunds: When not claiming pays off (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This article provides general information and does not replace individual advice.
