You can save on PKV premiums during an existing policy mainly through four levers. These are a higher deductible, a plan switch with your own insurer, the premium refund and, if you are entitled to it, the BAföG supplement for health insurance. Which of these suits you depends on your financial reserves and your plan. Some measures are hard to reverse, so look at the consequences before you change anything.
Key points at a glance
- A higher deductible lowers the premium, but it assumes you can pay the out-of-pocket amount in an emergency.
- With your own insurer, you are entitled to switch to plans with similar cover (§ 204 VVG). Accrued rights and ageing provisions are credited.
- The premium refund can amount to up to around 50 percent of an annual premium if you submit no bills for a year.
- BAföG recipients under 30 with their own health insurance receive a supplement of €102 (health) and €35 (long-term care) a month.
Which options are there to reduce the PKV premium?
| Lever | Effect | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Increase the deductible | Premium falls | The annual out-of-pocket amount must be affordable |
| Plan switch | Different scope of benefits, different premium | An exclusion or surcharge is possible for additional benefits |
| Premium refund | Up to around 50 percent of an annual premium | No bills may be submitted in the year |
| BAföG supplement | €102 for health plus €35 for long-term care a month | Requires BAföG entitlement and age under 30 |
How does a higher deductible reduce the premium?
With a deductible, you bear a fixed amount per year yourself, after which the plan reimburses according to its reimbursement rates. The higher this share, the lower the premium. Example with assumed figures: if a plan with a €500 deductible costs €10 a month more than the same plan with a €1,000 deductible, the higher deductible saves you €120 a year. In the unfavourable case, however, you bear €500 more yourself. These figures only show the calculation, so check your own plan against the offers.
The catch comes on the way back. Lowering the deductible counts as an upgrade in PKV. The insurer may then demand an exclusion of benefits or an appropriate risk surcharge. Therefore, only choose a higher deductible if you can bear it in the coming years too.
How does a plan switch work to lower the premium?
Under § 204 VVG, you can switch to other plans with similar cover at your insurer. Accrued rights and ageing provisions are credited. For additional benefits, the insurer may demand an exclusion of benefits or an appropriate risk surcharge and, where applicable, a waiting period. A surcharge and a waiting period can be avoided by excluding the additional benefit.
According to the voluntary guidelines of the PKV Association, insurers should answer switch requests within 15 working days. A switch from gender-neutral to gender-based plans is excluded. The plan-switching guidelines of the PKV Association describe the process in detail. What lies behind the ageing provisions in PKV (in German) is explained in a separate guide.
When is the premium refund worthwhile?
With a premium refund, the insurer pays back part of the annual premiums if you submit no bills for a year. There is a performance-based form, which depends on the insurer’s surpluses, and a guaranteed form, which is rare. As a guide, up to around 50 percent of an annual premium applies. The refund reduces your tax-deductible special expenses in the year it is paid out.
Before each decision, check whether the possible refund exceeds the bill you would otherwise pay yourself. In general, a bill can be submitted up to three years after the end of the year in which it was issued, so a bill from March 2026 can be submitted until 31 December 2029. Whether a bill submitted later reduces the refund for the relevant year is governed by the policy terms. The article on premium refunds in PKV (in German) explains how the system works in detail.
Is there a BAföG supplement for health insurance?
Yes, if you receive BAföG. For students under 30, the supplement for health insurance is currently €102, and the supplement for long-term care insurance is €35 a month. The maximum rate with your own flat and your own health and long-term care insurance is €992 a month. If you are family insured, living in your own flat gives you at most €855, because no supplements then apply. From age 30, the supplements are higher, at €185 and €48.
Increases are planned: the government draft provides for supplements of €121 and €39 from 1 April 2027. The Bundestag and the Bundesrat have not yet decided on the bill. Whether you receive BAföG, and in what amount, is decided by the BAföG office at the Studierendenwerk. Everything about the link between BAföG and insurance is in the article on the BAföG contribution towards health insurance (in German).
What to do if the premium is increased?
After a notice of an increase, you can cancel within two months, effective from the date of the planned change. The cancellation only takes effect once seamless follow-on cover is proven. Before changing insurer, it is therefore worth looking at a plan switch within your own company. The linked article shows how to handle a premium increase in PKV (in German).
What applies if I am not yet in PKV?
Most adjusting screws are set before you sign the contract. The exemption from compulsory insurance must be applied for within three months of the start of your studies, and it applies for the entire course of study. The process is described in the article on switching to PKV (in German). Which points matter when choosing a plan is explained in the guide to finding an affordable private health insurance (in German).
Frequently asked questions
How much can I save with a higher deductible?
That depends on the plan and your age on entry, so no fixed amount can be given. Compare offers for the same plan with different deductibles and set the premium saving against the additional own share, as in the example above. There, a saving of €120 a year is set against up to €500 more of your own share.
Can I switch plans without losing my ageing provisions?
With your own insurer, yes. Under § 204 VVG, accrued rights and ageing provisions are credited. The entitlement applies to plans with similar cover. For additional benefits, the insurer may demand an exclusion of benefits or an appropriate risk surcharge.
Is it worth not submitting bills?
That depends on the amount of the bill and the possible refund. Up to around 50 percent of an annual premium is the guide, whether performance-based or guaranteed. Set the refund against the costs you bear yourself, and remember that the refund reduces your tax-deductible special expenses.
Do I get BAföG if I am privately insured?
Private health insurance alone does not rule out BAföG. Whether you are entitled depends, among other things, on your parents’ income. The supplement of €102 and €35 applies to students under 30 with their own health and long-term care insurance. The BAföG office examines your application.
What to do now
- Check your policy terms for your deductible and whether your plan provides for a premium refund.
- Ask your insurer for plans with similar cover, and have the premium differences given to you in writing.
- Check with the BAföG office whether you are entitled to the health insurance supplement.
- Calculate the worst case for your own share before every change.
If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the way to advice on the Academycon homepage (in German).
You can find reviews of us on ProvenExpert, Trustlocal and Trustindex. Academycon has been mentioned, among other places, in an advertisement on FAZ.net. An overview of all mentions is on the press page (in German).
Related articles
- Money-saving tips for students in everyday life (in German)
- Saving electricity during your studies: lowering energy and utility costs (in German)
- PKV or GKV as a student: which pays off more? (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
