Deutschland Kompass
STEP

Krankenkasse: Health Insurance for the Self-Employed

Going self-employed ends employer-based coverage. Notify your insurer and choose a plan: voluntary GKV, PKV, or the artists' fund KSK.

WHAT TO DO

What is it and when to act?

When you go self-employed, your employer-based insurance ends. The question must be resolved immediately — before any gap in coverage arises. Notify your insurer at the same time you register with the Finanzamt.

Three main options

Voluntary GKV — stay with the same insurer, pay yourself (minimum ~€215–260/month).

PKV (private health insurance) — cheaper when young, more expensive with illness and age. Returning to the GKV is difficult.

KSK — for artists, designers, journalists, musicians. The government pays 50% of your contributions. The application process takes several months.

👨🏻‍💻
Max recommends:

I stayed with the GKV voluntarily — minimum contribution €250/month. Tough at the start but no nasty surprises. I didn't go to the PKV: I know people who are stuck there and can't get back into the GKV.

👩🏼‍💼
Lea recommends:

As a designer I applied to the KSK — the process took 4 months and I had to prove the creative nature of my work (portfolio, contracts). In the end I pay half what I would pay in voluntary GKV. The effort is worth it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens to my insurance when I go self-employed? ▾

Automatic employer-based coverage ends. Within 3 months you must either continue in the GKV voluntarily, switch to the PKV, or — for creative professionals — apply to the KSK. Going without insurance is not possible: mandatory health insurance (Krankenversicherungspflicht) applies to everyone in Germany.

How much does voluntary GKV cost for the self-employed? ▾

The minimum contribution is based on a minimum income base (~€1,178/month, 2024) and amounts to roughly €215–260/month (including Pflegeversicherung). If your actual income is higher, the contribution rises proportionally. The maximum assessment base is €5,175/month.

What is the KSK and who qualifies? ▾

The Künstlersozialkasse is for artists, musicians, journalists, designers and authors. The KSK subsidises 50% of GKV, pension and disability insurance contributions — just like an employer would. Contributions are income-based. Admission requires proof of the creative nature of your work.

OFFICIAL SOURCES