The supplemental rate varies by 1–2 percentage points between funds: at a good salary that is hundreds of euros a year — for the same basic care.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
One thing first: this step concerns people in the statutory system (GKV). Privately insured people do not switch funds but tariffs or insurers — under different rules and with health underwriting.
Put your fund's rate into the gross-to-net calculator to see the euro difference.
I compared insurers on two axes: the supplementary contribution and bonus programmes (cashback for sport, prevention). At my salary switching to the cheaper insurer gave ~180 € a year for nothing.
Look not only at the contribution but at the extras YOU need: osteopathy coverage, dental cleaning, chronic-illness programmes. A cheap insurer without your service is false economy.
No — and that is the key sentence of this step. This route describes switching within the STATUTORY system. Anyone privately insured changes tariff or insurer under different rules: with health underwriting, without the 12-month tie, and without the procedure described here in which the new fund does everything. The way back into the statutory system is open to employees only below the annual earnings threshold and is effectively shut from age 55.
Basic services are legally identical, but the supplementary contribution (roughly 2.2–4.4 %) and extras differ: bonus programmes, osteopathy, dental prophylaxis, coverage abroad. On a high salary that is hundreds a year.
No: doctors, hospitals and prescriptions are the same across public insurers. Only the administration and the top-up change. Treatment and access do not suffer.
No: about 95 percent of public-insurance benefits are identical by law. Funds differ in rate, bonus programmes and service — switching is risk-free.
No: an increase triggers the special termination right — cancel by the end of the month of the increase, regardless of membership length.