The order of steps decides the outcome
Most of the damage in this part of the process is not caused by illness. It is caused by sequence. A formal application that is declined leaves a trace that other insurers can see. An anonymous enquiry does not.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Collect your records | Ask your GP, any specialists and your current insurer for your treatment history. You cannot answer accurately from memory, and memory is not a defence. |
| 2. Anonymous pre-enquiry | Your medical facts go to several insurers without your name. You learn who would accept you, at what price and with which exclusions. |
| 3. Choose, then apply | Only now does a formal application go to one insurer, the one whose assessment you already know. |
If someone sends your application straight to an insurer without an anonymous enquiry first, ask why. There is no advantage for you in that order, only speed for whoever is selling.
What an insurer can decide
| Accepted as applied for | The normal case, including for many people who assume otherwise. |
| Premium surcharge | A percentage added for a measurable extra risk. It can often be reviewed later if the condition resolves. |
| Exclusion | Cover applies, but not for a named condition. Cheaper than a surcharge and more dangerous, because the gap only shows when you need it. |
| Declined | Not the end of the matter. Other insurers assess the same file differently, and there are routes with a legal right of admission. |
Common questions
What happens if I have a pre-existing condition?
One of four things: the insurer accepts you unchanged, adds a premium surcharge, excludes that condition from cover, or declines. Which of the four you get differs from insurer to insurer for the same condition, which is precisely why the order of steps matters.
What is an anonymous pre-enquiry?
In German, anonyme Risikovoranfrage. Your medical details are put to several insurers without your name. You receive their assessments, and nothing is recorded against you anywhere. A formal application, by contrast, is registered and a rejection is visible to other insurers afterwards.
What if I forget something?
The duty is to answer truthfully to the best of your knowledge, § 19 VVG. An honest gap is treated differently from a concealment, but the burden of showing that lands on you years later. Request your records from your doctors and your statutory insurer before you fill anything in.
How far back do the questions go?
Typically three years for outpatient treatment, five for dental, and up to ten years for inpatient and psychotherapeutic treatment. The exact periods are set by each insurer in its application form, not by law.
Send me your situation, I will tell you where you stand
No form, no obligation, and an answer in plain English. If the statutory system is the better fit for you, I will say so. I only work on private health insurance, so I have no reason to sell you anything else.
This page is general information on German law and market practice as at September 2026. It is not legal or tax advice. Figures are stated with their source and date in the German version of each topic.