You Want to Change Your Health Insurance Fund

If you want to change your statutory health insurance fund, simply apply for membership in a new health insurance fund. The new health insurance fund will inform the old one. Notice of termination is no longer required. 

Who can change health insurance companies?
Anyone who has been a member of their old health insurance fund for at least 12 months can change to any other statutory health insurance fund. If your health insurance fund increases the contribution, a special right of termination applies. Persons insured as family members can change when they have to take out insurance independently.y.

What are the deadlines for changing health insurance companies?
Anyone wishing to change health insurance companies must observe a notice period of two months to the end of the month. If you apply for membership in January, you will become a member of the new health insurance fund on April 1. The health insurance funds take care of the correct application of the deadlines. The new and the old health insurance funds will compare their data to determine when the change of health insurance fund is possible. The new health insurance fund will inform you as soon as the data exchange has concluded.

When changing employers, you can immediately join another health insurance provider. This immediate right to choose a health insurance fund applies for the first 14 days after the start of employment. The same applies to any change of status. Persons insured as family members do not cancel their insurance but join their chosen health insurance fund directly when they become subject to compulsory health insurance.

Does the new health insurance company have to accept me? What are the risks of changing health insurance funds?
Membership of the old health insurance company will end on the change date if the new health insurance company has confirmed the membership in writing. Insurance coverage is not jeopardized at any time when changing health insurance funds. There can be no gap in health insurance coverage. The Social Security Code regulates all of this in a binding manner for all health insurance funds.

Do I have to inform my employer about the change of health insurance funds?Employees should inform their employer about the change of health insurance funds. The employer receives a membership confirmation from the new health insurance fund via an electronic notification. Unemployed persons should inform the employment agency. Pensioners should inform their pension fund.

When is it necessary to cancel my health insurance?
If you want to leave the statutory health insurance system, for example, because you want to take out private insurance or move abroad, you are required to cancel your health insurance.

Do treatments that have already started continue when I change my health insurance provider?
The health insurance provider must approve some medical treatments before they can begin. If a treatment approved by the old health insurance company has not yet started, you must reapply with the new health insurance company. If you have already begun an approved treatment, the new health insurance fund will cover the cost of continuing the treatment. You should inform the new health insurance fund about any ongoing treatments. Normally, you will need to return aids such as wheelchairs and receive an equivalent replacement from the new health insurance fund. With respect to medication, it is also possible that you will receive other equivalent medication.