A job change during the probation period raises a question for privately insured employees: does my private health insurance (PKV) continue, or do I have to go back to the statutory health insurance (GKV)? The answer depends almost entirely on your future salary, not on the change of employer itself.
Short answer: Changing employer does not end your private health insurance automatically. If your regular annual salary in the new job stays above the compulsory insurance threshold of 77,400 euros (2026), you can keep your PKV. If it falls below, you are usually compulsorily insured again in the statutory system. The start of the obligation follows the first month with the lower pay.
The most important points at a glance
- The change itself is not decisive. What matters is whether your future annual earnings are above or below 77,400 euros (2026).
- If pay is above that line, you can keep your PKV and may receive an employer contribution.
- If pay is below that line, a duty to join the statutory health insurance usually arises, and you cannot opt out of it.
- Do not cancel your PKV before the new contract and the insurance obligation are clarified, so that no gap appears.
- From age 55 a return to the statutory insurance can be ruled out in some cases, so check this early.
What happens to my PKV when I change jobs?
Your private policy is a separate contract with the insurer and does not end with your employment. The decisive question is therefore whether you remain exempt from compulsory insurance or whether the statutory obligation applies. In 2026 the threshold is 6,450 euros a month or 77,400 euros a year. These figures come from the GKV-Spitzenverband fact sheet on the 2026 calculation values (status 1 January 2026, in German).
When does the PKV continue?
If your new salary is regularly above the threshold, you remain exempt from compulsory insurance and can keep your private health insurance. Many employers then contribute to the costs. The employer contribution is governed by section 257 Social Code Book V (in German) and is limited. As a rule of thumb, the employer pays at most half of your PKV premium, and at most the amount it would pay in statutory insurance.
Assumption: your new salary is 7,000 euros gross a month, which is above the threshold. Your PKV premium is 400 euros a month.
- Half of your PKV premium is 200 euros.
- The employer contribution can therefore be at most 200 euros, even if the statutory comparison amount would be higher.
- You bear the rest yourself, that is 200 euros, and your policy continues.
When do I have to return to the statutory health insurance?
If your salary falls below the compulsory insurance threshold, you usually become compulsorily insured in the statutory system. According to the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), the obligation starts at the point of the pay reduction. A short dip of generally up to three months does not count as a compulsory case. If the threshold is raised, the obligation arises on 1 January of the relevant year. In that situation you can apply for an exemption under certain conditions to stay in the PKV.
Returning has limits. If the obligation arises from age 55, a return may be excluded when you were not statutorily insured in the last five years. Check exactly these cases before a change. A more detailed explanation is in our guide on the return to the GKV (in German).
What role does the probation period play?
The probation period is not specifically regulated for health insurance. Your pay remains the decisive factor. However, a probation period lasts at most six months, and during it a notice period of two weeks generally applies (section 622(3) of the German Civil Code (in German)). This means that if the new job ends during probation, you may be left without an employer contribution and with a gap you have to close immediately. The probation period is therefore a good moment to secure your cover for the case that the job ends, before you change the old policy.
A gap in health insurance should be avoided in any case. Without ongoing cover, a later return can become difficult, and treatment costs are not covered.
What you should clarify before the change
Before you sign the new contract, make a short list. First, your annual salary including all regular components such as allowances or fixed supplements. Second, the start date: the first working day counts, not the date of your notice to the PKV. Third, the employer contribution, which you should have confirmed in writing. Fourth, the probation period itself, because it determines how quickly your cover may change again. Those who note these points in advance avoid the most common gaps.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to cancel my PKV when I start a new job?
No, cancellation does not happen automatically. If your salary is above the threshold, you can usually keep the PKV. If it is below, you must clarify the insurance obligation. When you adjust your contract depends on what your insurer and your new fund confirm to you.
Will my new employer pay a contribution towards the PKV?
If you stay in the PKV, your employer may pay a contribution. Whether and how much depends on the law and on your contract. Ask the HR department before you sign.
What if I am dismissed during the probation period?
The employment then ends, and the insurance obligation from the job falls away. If you did not cancel your PKV, it continues, and you pay the contributions yourself. In that case, check your cover and the payment of contributions immediately.
Can I switch from PKV to GKV during the probation period?
That depends on whether you become compulsorily insured in the statutory system. If your pay is below the threshold, you are usually compulsorily insured and must be in the statutory system. If it is above, a return to the GKV is possible only under narrow conditions, for example when the return rules apply. Have this checked before you take the step.
What happens to my provisions for old age in the PKV?
Provisions for old age in the PKV are not automatically kept when you return to the statutory system. They can be transferred when you change within the PKV. Ask your insurer to confirm this in writing.
What to do now
- Work out the expected annual salary from the new contract and compare it with 77,400 euros.
- Ask your new employer whether it pays a contribution towards the PKV and how much.
- Clarify with your PKV insurer how your contract behaves when you change jobs, and get everything in writing.
- Do not cancel anything before the insurance obligation is clear, and avoid any gap in cover.
- In complex cases such as the age limit or several employers, a personal consultation can help, for example with Academycon (in German).
Related guides
- First Job Health Insurance: Statutory or Private?
- PKV or GKV as a Student: Which Option Fits Your Situation
- Health Insurance After Graduation: From Exams to Your First Job
- PKV After Graduation: What Happens to Your Contract (in German)
Sources: Techniker Krankenkasse, return to the GKV (status per page: March 2026, in German); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 calculation values, status 1 January 2026; section 257 SGB V (in German); section 622 German Civil Code (in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
