Definition. The ageing reserve (Altersrückstellung) is the part of your private health insurance premium that the insurer builds up to cushion your premiums in older age. It grows over the years and belongs to every private health insurance contract. When you switch tariff within the same insurer, it is generally kept.
Why the reserve matters for students
If you join private health insurance early, you build up the reserve over many years. This later affects how your premiums develop, because the insurer uses part of these funds to offset rising costs. The amount depends on the tariff, the entry age and the insurer. A fixed sum therefore cannot be stated in general terms.
What happens when you switch
When you change tariff with the same insurer, the accumulated reserve is generally carried over. When you move to another insurer, different rules apply, which result from insurance contract law and the terms of the tariff. Before you switch, ask your insurer to confirm the exact status in writing and compare the conditions of the new tariff.
Figures for 2026 and their sources
The fact base contains no sum for the ageing reserve, because it varies strongly by tariff and insurer. The threshold for moving from statutory to private health insurance as an employee is the compulsory insurance threshold (Versicherungspflichtgrenze). For 2026 it is 6,450 euros per month and 77,400 euros per year (GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on calculation variables 2026).
An example from your studies
You take out a private tariff in your early twenties. Over the years the reserve grows, including during your studies. If you later switch to another tariff with the same insurer, you generally take the funds accumulated so far with you. Whether the switch is worthwhile depends on a comparison of the tariff conditions, not on the premium alone.
Related terms
- PKV: What is private health insurance for students? (in German)
- Tariff change: PKV tariff change explained (in German)
- Anwartschaft: Glossary Anwartschaft (in German)
- Compulsory insurance threshold: Glossary compulsory insurance threshold (in German)
- All terms at a glance: Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose the ageing reserve if I cancel the insurance?
When a contract is cancelled, the treatment of the accumulated funds depends on the contract and on what follows. Ask your insurer to explain the consequences in writing before you cancel.
Do I get the reserve back when I switch to statutory insurance?
Switching to statutory health insurance does not automatically lead to a payout. The contract terms set out how the funds are handled. Your insurer can give you a binding answer.
Is an early start worthwhile because of the reserve?
The reserve builds up over the term of the contract, so the start date matters. Whether an early start suits you also depends on income, health and your life plans.
Last updated: October 2026. This entry is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
Sources: contract law and tariff terms of the respective insurer, GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on calculation variables 2026 (compulsory insurance threshold).
