At the turn of the year, numerous health insurance funds increased their contributions. Insured individuals thus have a special termination right. But only a few take advantage of it.
afp | Despite rising contributions, only a few statutory health insurance members switch their health insurer in Germany according to a survey. In 2025, only five percent chose a new insurer, as the consumer portal Finanztip reported on Friday. 39 percent had never switched their health insurer. Two-thirds of those who switched were more satisfied with their new insurer than before, according to the representative survey. A third even stated that they were noticeably more satisfied.
Only about four percent were less satisfied after the switch. “The high satisfaction shows: a change of health insurer can indeed pay off,” explained Finanztip expert Barbara Weber. A switch can also often save money without insured persons having to forgo benefits, the consumer portal continued, citing its comparison of health insurers.
Combination of Premium and Benefits
According to the survey, for most respondents such savings were also the main trigger for switching. 40 percent named a lower premium as the reason, FinanTip further announced. An almost equally important role in the decision was played by better benefits at 39 percent. “Statutory insured individuals do not decide to switch their health insurer purely on cost, but seek the best combination of premium and benefits,” Weber explained. The service comes in with 27 percent as a reason ahead of bonus programs with 24 percent and recommendations with 22 percent.
FinanTip valued the savings potential of a switch at hundreds of euros per year and pointed to its online calculator, with which insured individuals could calculate their savings individually. A comparison at the turn of the year is considered most sensible, the consumer portal recommended. In the case of an increase in the additional contribution, insured persons have a special termination right. “The termination must reach the previous health insurer no later than the end of the month in which the new additional contribution is first charged,” FinanTip explained.
For the survey, Innofact conducted interviews on behalf of FinanTip in December 2025 with a total of 1,017 people. The results are representative of the German population aged 18 and over, according to FinanTip.
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