PKV 2027 covers all changes to private health insurance (PKV) at the turn of the year 2026/2027. The focus lies on the compulsory insurance threshold, the question of protection for existing policyholders, and how premiums develop at each insurer. This overview links you to every topic in the group (articles in German).
Short answer: The cabinet draft of the social insurance reference values sets a general compulsory insurance threshold of 84,150 euros per year for 2027. As of October 2026, the approval of the Bundesrat was still outstanding. Each insurer sets premium increases for its own tariffs, and a single percentage for all privately insured people is not documented. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- For 2027, the cabinet draft sets a general compulsory insurance threshold of 84,150 euros per year, which is 7,012.50 euros per month. The values apply only once the regulation is final.
- As of October 2026, the approval of the Bundesrat was still outstanding. Until the regulation is final, the values are provisional.
- Premium increases apply per insurer and tariff. A flat increase for all privately insured people cannot be derived from this.
- If you already hold private insurance, check protection for existing policyholders separately. It must be assessed apart from new applicants.
- The citizens’ insurance model (Bürgerversicherung) is debated in politics and is not in force.
Thresholds and reference dates for 2027
The compulsory insurance threshold determines from which regular annual earnings employees no longer have to be in statutory health insurance. Which reference date applies to existing cases depends on the final regulation.
The thresholds are set anew each year, so last year’s value is not enough. What counts is your regular annual earnings. If the threshold is exceeded, compulsory insurance ends only at the end of the calendar year. This does not apply if your earnings do not exceed the threshold valid from the following calendar year (§ 6 para. 4 SGB V). Retroactive pay increases are attributed to the year in which they arose (§ 6 para. 4 sentence 3 SGB V).
| Threshold | Annual value | Monthly value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| General compulsory insurance threshold (§ 6 para. 6 SGB V) | 84,150 euros | 7,012.50 euros | Cabinet draft, October 2026 |
| Threshold under § 6 para. 7 SGB V | 72,900 euros | 6,075 euros | Cabinet draft, October 2026 |
| Threshold under § 6 para. 8 SGB V | 80,550 euros | 6,712.50 euros | Cabinet draft, October 2026 |
What the threshold means for a switch is explained in the article on the compulsory insurance threshold for students (in German). The details of switching are covered in the following articles.
- PKV switch 2027: Is it worth it under the new limits?
- PKV protection for existing policyholders 2027: What counts on the reference date
What rises in PKV in 2027?
Premium adjustments are decided by each individual insurer. Media report significant increases, but a single percentage for all privately insured people is not documented. What counts is what your own tariff states.
The insurer must inform you about an adjustment and make the calculation transparent. Read the notice calmly before you react.
Whether a premium increase affects your decision depends on whether you stay in your tariff or switch. Both paths need a calculation over several years.
- PKV premium increase 2027: What privately insured people face (in German)
PKV for students and the political debate
If you are a student and already privately insured, check the student tariff conditions separately. They can differ from what employees receive at the start of their career.
For students, the key question is how the reform affects student tariffs. That is currently open. The citizens’ insurance model is debated in politics, and its effects on privately insured people and students are not yet settled.
- PKV 2027 for students: What the health reform could change
- Citizens’ insurance: What would change for privately insured people
- Citizens’ insurance for students: How it would differ from PKV and GKV (in German)
What to plan for when you switch
Switching is more than a tariff comparison. Plan it early, because health declarations, cancellation of your current insurance and the start date of the new contract must fit together.
- Health declarations: check in advance which questions the application asks and whether pre-existing conditions can lead to surcharges or exclusions.
- Benefits: compare reimbursements, deductibles and dental cover side by side, not only the starting premium.
- Premium development: ask how the tariff has been adjusted in recent years.
- Cancelling statutory insurance: If no new statutory membership begins, the health insurer issues a cancellation confirmation within two weeks. The cancellation takes effect only if you prove other health cover within that period (§ 175 para. 4 SGB V).
- Documents: you typically need your current insurance certificate, proof of earnings and the cancellation confirmation. The insurer states which documents it requires in its application.
- Timing: a switch only works if your earnings and the start of cover match. Have the start date confirmed in writing.
If you want your situation calculated, you can ask Academycon for a personal assessment. Its results do not replace your own review of the documents.
Frequently asked questions
From which salary can I switch to PKV in 2027?
The regular annual earnings are decisive. In the cabinet draft, the general threshold for 2027 is 84,150 euros per year. The value applies only with the final regulation, so check the current status before you decide.
Will premiums rise in 2027 for all privately insured people?
Premium adjustments affect individual tariffs. Your insurer tells you whether and how much your tariff rises. Comparing other tariffs is worthwhile before you decide.
What does protection for existing policyholders mean in PKV?
It refers to rules that apply to people who already hold private insurance. New applicants may face different conditions. The exact rules for 2027 depend on the final regulation.
Would a citizens’ insurance model abolish PKV?
That is a political question, and there are several models. Whether and in what form it comes is open. The party platforms and the coalition agreement show what is being discussed.
Is a PKV switch in 2027 always worthwhile?
No. Income, health, family plans and the premiums of the target tariff are decisive. In PKV, ageing provisions also play a role, and they are carried over when you switch.
Does the threshold also apply to students?
The compulsory insurance threshold concerns employees with earnings. Students are generally insured under other rules. How the reform affects student tariffs is open.
The steps build on each other. Working through them in this order helps you avoid common mistakes, such as switching on the basis of a threshold that is not yet confirmed.
What to do now
- Check your premium notice: Does it state an adjustment, and from when does it apply?
- Clarify your earnings: compare your regular annual earnings with the threshold for the following year.
- Calculate the target tariff: include premiums, deductibles and benefits, not only the monthly premium.
- Hold off on important decisions until the final values are set.
Related articles
- When you can be privately insured: The threshold explained
- PKV premium adjustments: How to respond correctly (in German)
- Switching to PKV after your studies: Steps and deadlines
Sources: Federal Government: Contribution assessment ceilings 2027 approved by cabinet (last updated October 2026), German Pension Insurance: Report on the cabinet decision (last updated October 2026), Social Code Book V, § 6 (gesetze-im-internet.de, last updated November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
