Switching Statutory Health Insurance (Krankenkasse) in Germany

Researched from official sources · April 30, 2026

Switching Statutory Health Insurance (Krankenkasse) in Germany

Estimated time

Around 30 minutes to apply with the new Krankenkasse; the switch itself takes effect after the statutory notice period

Cost

€0

What You Need

Tap to check off items as you gather them

Additional Items

  • Bank account details (IBAN) — needed for direct debit of contributions if you are a voluntary or self-paying member
  • Most recent payslip (employer name, gross salary) — speeds up Pflichtversicherung classification
  • Aufenthaltstitel (for non-EU residents) — some Kassen request a copy
  • Family insurance details (Familienversicherung) — names, dates of birth, and Steuer-IDs of co-insured family members

Step-by-Step

  1. 1

    Confirm You Are Eligible to Switch

    1. Check the start date of your current Krankenkasse membership
    2. Per § 175 SGB V you must have been a member for at least twelve months
    3. Exception: if your current Kasse has just raised its Zusatzbeitrag, the Sonderkündigungsrecht overrides the Bindungsfrist for the month the higher rate applies

    ⚠️ Watch out: If you are still inside the twelve-month Bindungsfrist and no Sonderkündigungsrecht applies, the new Kasse will reject the application. Wait until the period ends or until your current Kasse next changes its Zusatzbeitrag.

  2. 2

    Choose a New Krankenkasse

    1. Compare contribution rates — the statutory base rate is uniform; only the Zusatzbeitrag differs by Kasse
    2. Compare service offering: app quality, English-language support, Wahltarife and Bonusprogramme, dental and prevention extras
    3. Confirm the Kasse is open to your residence area — most are nationwide; some Betriebskrankenkassen and Innungskassen restrict by employer or trade

    💡 Tip: Premium and service quality vary widely. The Bundesamt für Soziale Sicherung publishes oversight reports that can help compare funds objectively.

  3. 3

    Apply to the New Krankenkasse

    1. Complete the membership application on the chosen Kasse's website, app, or paper form
    2. Provide your Steuer-ID, current Kasse name and member number, employer details, and dependants for Familienversicherung
    3. Submit and keep the application receipt for your records

    💡 Tip: Apply in writing or via the Kasse's secure portal — phone-only applications can later be hard to evidence if a dispute arises.

    💬 Say:

    Ich möchte zu Ihrer Krankenkasse wechseln.

    "I would like to switch to your Krankenkasse."

    📋 Use when: Calling or speaking to the new Kasse's onboarding team

  4. 4

    Wait for the New Kasse to Notify the Old One

    1. Per § 175 Abs. 2 SGB V, the new Kasse notifies the old one electronically — you do not send a separate Kündigung
    2. Standard cases follow the two-calendar-month notice period from § 175 Abs. 4 S. 3 SGB V
    3. Sonderkündigungsrecht cases take effect at the end of the month for which the higher Zusatzbeitrag applies

    ⚠️ Watch out: If after the notice period the old Kasse keeps deducting contributions, ask the new Kasse to escalate the electronic notification. The previous Kasse must confirm membership termination — refer them to § 175 Abs. 2 SGB V.

  5. 5

    Receive Your New Krankenversichertenkarte

    1. The new Kasse mails the elektronische Gesundheitskarte (eGK) to your registered address once your membership is active
    2. Activate any digital tools the Kasse offers (login, app, eRezept access)

    💡 Tip: Keep your old eGK until the new card arrives — if you need treatment in the gap month, the doctor can still bill the previous Kasse.

  6. 6

    Inform Your Employer

    1. Give the new Kasse name, your new member number, and the new eGK to HR or payroll
    2. Confirm with the next payslip that contributions now flow to the new Kasse

    ⚠️ Watch out: If your employer continues to deduct for the old Kasse, ask payroll to update your Krankenkassenstammdaten with the new member number — this is a payroll-level change, not a tax-class change.

Costs

Item Amount Payment Notes
Switching the Krankenkasse €0 N/A Per BMG, the Krankenkasse switch itself is free. Each fund charges the statutory contribution rate plus its own Zusatzbeitrag — those rates apply regardless of whether you switch.
Switching the Krankenkasse €0
Payment:
N/A
Notes:
Per BMG, the Krankenkasse switch itself is free. Each fund charges the statutory contribution rate plus its own Zusatzbeitrag — those rates apply regardless of whether you switch.
Total: €0

FAQ

General

How long do I have to stay with my current Krankenkasse before switching?

Per § 175 Abs. 4 SGB V, you are bound to your chosen Krankenkasse for at least twelve months. After the twelve-month Bindungsfrist, you can give notice with a two-calendar-month notice period — the switch becomes effective at the end of the second following calendar month.

Do I need to send a Kündigung to my current Krankenkasse?

No. Per the BMG online-ratgeber, since 1 January 2021 a Kündigung is no longer required for switching within the statutory system — your newly chosen Krankenkasse informs your current one electronically about the switch (§ 175 Abs. 2 SGB V). The exception is when you are leaving the GKV system entirely (for example, switching to private health insurance), in which case the current Kasse must still issue a Kündigungsbestätigung.

Can I switch sooner if my Zusatzbeitrag goes up?

Yes. Per § 175 Abs. 4 S. 6 SGB V you have a Sonderkündigungsrecht when your Krankenkasse first introduces or raises its Zusatzbeitragssatz. The BMG online-ratgeber states the switch must be requested by the end of the month for which the higher Zusatzbeitrag applies — the twelve-month Bindungsfrist does not block this special right.

How do I actually switch?

Choose a new Krankenkasse and complete its membership application (online, app, or paper). The new Kasse takes care of notifying the old one in the electronic Meldeverfahren. You receive your new Krankenversichertenkarte by post; once you do, give the new card and member number to your employer or pension provider so contributions are deducted to the new Kasse.

Will my employer be notified automatically?

Most employers are not notified automatically — the SGB V procedure runs between the two Krankenkassen, not via your employer. After your new Kasse confirms the switch, hand the new Krankenversichertenkarte and your new member number to your HR or payroll team so the next contribution run is routed correctly.

What about my dependants on Familienversicherung?

Family-insured members move with the main member when they switch. The new Krankenkasse asks for the names, dates of birth and Steuer-IDs of family-insured dependants on the application. Coverage continues without a gap once the switch takes effect.

Can I switch from public (GKV) to private (PKV) the same way?

No. The same § 175 SGB V Bindungsfrist applies, but leaving the GKV requires you to demonstrate alternative health coverage and the old Kasse must issue a Kündigungsbestätigung. Eligibility to leave GKV is restricted (income above the Versicherungspflichtgrenze for employees, or self-employment, civil-service status, etc.). See the BMG GKV ↔ PKV guidance before starting.

After This Process

  • → Update other authorities — employer, pension provider, family-insurance dependants
  • → If your tax class also changes (for example, after marriage) — see our Steuerklasse change guide
  • → Set a calendar reminder before the next twelve-month Bindungsfrist ends so you know when you can switch again if needed
  • → Track your contribution rate — Krankenkassen can announce Zusatzbeitrag changes annually, which may unlock the Sonderkündigungsrecht

Sources

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4 sources cited last accessed 2026-04-30

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  1. T1
    Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG) 2026-04-30

    An die Wahl der neuen Krankenkasse sind Sie grundsätzlich für zwölf Monate gebunden. Eine Kündigung ist seit dem 1. Januar 2021 für den Wechsel innerhalb der GKV nicht mehr erforderlich: die neu gewählte Krankenkasse informiert die bisherige Krankenkasse über den Wechsel. Mitglieder einer Krankenkasse haben ein Sonderkündigungsrecht, wenn ihre Krankenkasse ihren Zusatzbeitragssatz erhöht — der Wechsel muss bis zum Ablauf des Monats beantragt werden, für den der Zusatzbeitragssatz erhöht wird.

    bundesgesundheitsministerium.de
  2. T1
    Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de) — Sozialgesetzbuch V (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) 2026-04-30

    § 175 SGB V (Ausübung des Wahlrechts): Versicherungspflichtige und Versicherungsberechtigte sind an die von ihnen gewählte Krankenkasse mindestens zwölf Monate gebunden (Abs. 4 S. 1). Nach Ablauf der zwölf Monate kann mit einer Frist von zwei Monaten zum Ablauf des übernächsten Kalendermonats gekündigt werden (Abs. 4 S. 3). Wird der Zusatzbeitragssatz erstmals erhoben oder erhöht, besteht ein Sonderkündigungsrecht (Abs. 4 S. 6). Die gewählte Krankenkasse informiert die bisherige Krankenkasse im elektronischen Meldeverfahren unverzüglich über die Wahlentscheidung (Abs. 2).

    gesetze-im-internet.de
  3. T1
    Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG) — English information 2026-04-30

    All citizens who reside in Germany are required to take out health insurance. More than 70 million citizens are insured with a SHI (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) fund, and approximately 16 million are co-insured free of charge as family members.

    bundesgesundheitsministerium.de
  4. T1
    GKV-Spitzenverband (National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds) 2026-04-30

    The statutory health insurance system in Germany is administered by the Krankenkassen (statutory health insurance funds), each of which is a self-governing public-law corporation. Members may choose between different Krankenkassen and switch between them under the rules of the Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB V).

    gkv-spitzenverband.de
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