Private Health Insurance, How it work and benefit

Private health insurance (PHI)


Private health insurance companies offer highly customized and high-quality health care services, but also at the appropriate price.


In Germany, every citizen must have health insurance. Who does not own a  compulsory insurance in the statutory health insurance, may conclude to a private health insurance (PHI). This applies, for example, for civil servants, freelancers, as well as employees whose salary is above the compulsory insurance limit. Who is eligible for this insurance, may take out private insurance.

Private health insurance come as the statutory health insurance, the health costs of their members. The scope of private health insurance is significantly greater than the statutory health insurance.

The contribution amount depends upon private insurance for the desired scope and according to individual risk factors of the insured person, such as age, sex and state of health. This increases the contributions in the course of the insurance period. For existing pre-existing conditions or disease risks risk premiums may be collected or the disease will be excluded even from the insurance. In private health insurance contributions must be paid for all insured persons, even for co-insured children and spouse.

Performers are the private health insurance companies. The performances usually consist of a reimbursement - the insured person pays his medical bill initially itself, the insurance company shall refund the cost back then. If necessary, the private health care costs but also to pay directly.

The scope of private health insurance can be individually adapted to the wishes of the insured. With full insurance you can choose between different tariffs, and yet also, if additional optional services. Depending on the rate the performance level is significantly higher than the statutory funds. So pay private health insurance also singles and chief physician treatment in hospital, quality dentures, eyeglasses and alternative healing methods. In addition, they report generally higher cost rates, which is why private patients are often given preferential treatment - doctors earn them more.

Even with private insurance you can provide individual service packages together. This also legally insured access to many benefits of private health insurance, who do not accept the statutory funds, such as hospital cash, naturopathy, or here dentures and eyeglasses. For travelers there is also a private Overseas Health Insurance may recommend.

What type of health insurance is worth in the individual case - law or private - you should think twice. Private health insurance offers better performance in many areas, but the posts can rise significantly over the statutory health insurance.