Optimise your healthcare: The check-up insurance as the key
20 Jun 2025
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
Many rely on the standard check-up, but is it really enough? A check-up insurance can fill coverage gaps and better cover individual health risks. Discover how to take your preventive care to the next level.
The topic in brief and concise terms
A check-up insurance complements the standard preventative care of statutory health insurance by covering the costs for more extensive and customized early detection examinations.
Choosing the right check-up insurance should be based on individual risk factors, the desired scope of services, and a thorough tariff comparison.
Proactive health prevention through a check-up insurance can help detect diseases earlier and thus improve treatment opportunities.
Strengthening the Foundation: What Does Basic Insurance Offer?
Statutorily insured individuals in Germany are entitled to regular health check-ups. Between the ages of 18 and 34, a one-time check-up is covered by statutory health insurance (GKV). From the age of 35, you can take advantage of this check every three years.
This basic examination, often called Check-up 35, includes a medical history and a physical examination. Additionally, it involves blood pressure measurement, as well as blood and urine tests for the early detection of conditions such as diabetes or kidney diseases. A one-time testing for Hepatitis B and C is also part of the programme for insured persons aged 35 and over.
Many overlook that this standard check-up only takes about 30 minutes. The focus is on common diseases, while more specific risks often remain unconsidered. Comprehensive health care often goes beyond this. This basic preventive measure is an important first step, but further measures are often necessary for a deeper analysis of your health.
Realizing Potential: The Role of Check-up Insurance
A check-up insurance starts where the benefits of statutory health insurance end. It is a private supplementary insurance that covers the costs of extended preventive examinations. With this, you can tailor and enhance your health protection individually. For instance, over 70 percent of Germans could benefit from advanced cardiovascular tests.
The advantages of such a policy are diverse. It enables access to modern diagnostic procedures not included in the statutory health insurance catalog. These often include more detailed blood analyses, ultrasound examinations of additional organs, or even a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a whole-body check-up. Some policies reimburse up to €1,500 for such extended checks.
Here are some examples of what a check-up insurance could additionally cover:
Advanced cardiological diagnostics (e.g., stress ECG, cardiac ultrasound) beyond the statutory health insurance standard.
Comprehensive blood tumour marker determination for advanced cancer early detection.
Ophthalmological preventive examinations such as glaucoma screening, which are often covered by statutory health insurance only after a certain age or with risk factors.
Bone density measurement for osteoporosis prevention, particularly relevant for risk groups.
Sports medical performance diagnostics for active individuals.
Individual lifestyle change advice based on detailed results, going beyond the 15-minute standard consultation.
The exact services vary greatly depending on the provider and policy. An individual health plan should take these options into account. With check-up insurance, you are investing specifically in more precise and personalised early detection.
Minimising Risks: When is a Check-up Insurance Sensible?
The decision to opt for a check-up insurance depends on your individual needs and risk factors. Do you have pre-existing conditions or are there familial clusters of certain illnesses? In such cases, enhanced check-ups can be particularly valuable. Studies show that with a family history, the risk of certain diseases can increase by up to 50 percent.
For health-conscious individuals who wish to take proactive measures, this type of policy is worth considering. It provides a more detailed assessment of one's health status. Over 60 percent of users of enhanced check-ups feel more secure afterwards.
Also, consider your age. As you age, statutory health insurance benefits become more frequent, but they do not cover all modern preventive options. A supplementary health insurance can be a sensible addition here. The check-up insurance is therefore a tool for those who desire more than the standard and wish to actively shape their health care.
Cost Optimization: What does a check-up insurance financially include?
The cost of a check-up insurance varies depending on the coverage, age, and health condition at the time of signing. Simple plans often start at less than 20 euros per month. More comprehensive packages, which also cover expensive examinations like a full-body MRI, may accordingly cost more.
It is important to carefully assess the price-performance ratio. Pay attention to the following points: Which examinations are specifically covered? Are there annual limits for reimbursement? Are there waiting periods? Some policies include a benefit scale that limits reimbursement in the first three to five years.
A good check-up insurance should be transparent in its conditions. It can help avoid high one-off costs for private medical preventive services. A single extended check-up can quickly cost several hundred to over a thousand euros. The insurance spreads these potential costs over manageable monthly premiums, making comprehensive preventative care financially accessible for many, similar to the principle of health insurance.
Proaktiv Handeln: Your Next Steps for Optimal Precaution
Engaging with personal health care is an important step. A check-up insurance policy provides the opportunity to go beyond the statutory standard. It allows for more individualized and potentially more comprehensive early detection of health risks. Remember, prevention is often the best medicine – and an investment of a few euros per month can pay off in the long run.
If you want to optimize your health care, personal advice is worthwhile. Our experts at nextsure are happy to help you find the right solution for your needs. We analyze your situation and show you how a check-up insurance policy can complement your health strategy. Personalized advice often takes only 30 minutes but can have a significant impact on your health future.
Request your individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed for free and receive specific optimization suggestions.
More useful links
Federal Ministry of Health provides information on the topic of prevention.
Federal Ministry of Health provides information on health promotion and prevention within the framework of statutory health insurance.
Federal Ministry of Health explains the definition of the Prevention Act.
Destatis offers comprehensive data and statistics on health.
Destatis provides detailed information on health expenditure in Germany.
Destatis presents data on the health status and relevant behavior of the population.
Health Reporting of the Federation (GBE) offers comprehensive reports and data on health in Germany.
Federal Ministry of Health provides the report on drug and addiction policy 2022 as a PDF.
Destatis provides information on preventive and rehabilitation facilities.
FAQ
Was ist der Unterschied zwischen dem GKV-Check-up und den Leistungen einer Check-up-Versicherung?
Der GKV-Check-up bietet eine Grundversorgung zur Früherkennung häufiger Krankheiten. Eine Check-up-Versicherung erweitert diesen Schutz, indem sie Kosten für spezifischere, individuellere oder häufigere Vorsorgeuntersuchungen übernimmt, die über den gesetzlichen Rahmen hinausgehen.
Gibt es Wartezeiten bei einer Check-up-Versicherung?
Ja, viele Check-up-Versicherungen haben Wartezeiten, üblicherweise zwischen drei und acht Monaten, bevor bestimmte Leistungen in Anspruch genommen werden können. Diese variieren je nach Tarif und Anbieter.
Kann ich eine Check-up-Versicherung abschließen, wenn ich Vorerkrankungen habe?
Das hängt von der Art der Vorerkrankung und den Bedingungen des Versicherers ab. Manche Versicherer erheben Risikozuschläge, schließen bestimmte Leistungen aus oder lehnen den Antrag ab. Eine ehrliche Angabe der Gesundheitshistorie ist entscheidend.
Welche Rolle spielt mein Alter beim Abschluss einer Check-up-Versicherung?
Das Alter ist ein wichtiger Faktor für die Beitragshöhe. Jüngere Versicherte zahlen in der Regel niedrigere Beiträge. Einige Tarife haben auch Altersgrenzen für den Abschluss.
Wie finde ich die beste Check-up-Versicherung für mich?
Vergleichen Sie die Leistungen und Kosten verschiedener Anbieter. Achten Sie darauf, dass der Tarif Ihre individuellen Vorsorgebedürfnisse abdeckt. Eine unabhängige Beratung, wie sie nextsure anbietet, kann Ihnen helfen, die passende Police zu finden.
Sind die Beiträge für eine Check-up-Versicherung steuerlich absetzbar?
Beiträge zu Krankenzusatzversicherungen, wozu auch Check-up-Versicherungen zählen können, sind im Rahmen der Vorsorgeaufwendungen steuerlich absetzbar. Die genaue Höhe hängt von Ihrer individuellen steuerlichen Situation ab.
