Continentale Private Health Insurance in Germany | 2026

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Continentale Private Health Insurance Overview

Continentale Krankenversicherung is part of a broader insurance group covering health, life, property, and accident insurance, with German private health insurance as a central business segment. The long-established German insurer offers comprehensive private health insurance and supplementary coverage.

Its approach differs from many competitors by emphasizing cost-conscious use of medical services through a structured system of deductibles and bonus incentives.

The tariff structure is relatively straightforward, with a limited number of core plans that include outpatient and inpatient care. At the same time, additional elements such as sick pay, inpatient elective benefits, or contribution relief components can be added separately, depending on the tariff.

A defining feature of ECONOMY, COMFORT, and PREMIUM is the combination of performance-based deductibles and premium refunds. In ECONOMY, policyholders generally contribute €10 per medical service, while COMFORT and PREMIUM generally apply €20 per service. PREMIUM limits this cost sharing to €500 per calendar year for adults and €250 for children. BUSINESS instead uses a standard absolute deductible of €500 per calendar year for adults and €250 for children. Policyholders may also receive a refund if no claims are submitted.

Overall, Continentale positions itself as a provider of solid, relatively affordable health insurance, with a strong emphasis on cost-conscious use and personal cost-sharing, rather than fully integrated or highly modular premium systems.

Key Health Insurance Tariffs

Continentale Krankenversicherung Private Health Insurance offers 4 core plans: BUSINESS, COMFORT, ECONOMY, and PREMIUM. These tariffs cover outpatient and inpatient care, with differences in reimbursement levels, cost-sharing, and additional benefits.

ECONOMY, COMFORT, and PREMIUM

Differences between tariff levels mainly relate to reimbursement limits, cost-sharing, and additional benefits. The core COMFORT and PREMIUM tariffs cover standard multi-bed hospital accommodation. Single-room or double-room accommodation and treatment by the chief physician require the supplementary inpatient elective-benefit tariffs SP1 or SP2. BUSINESS differs by including single-room accommodation and treatment by the chief physician directly within its core coverage.

Performance-based deductibles

A defining feature across ECONOMY, COMFORT, and PREMIUM is the use of performance-based deductibles. ECONOMY generally charges €10 per medical service, while COMFORT and PREMIUM generally charge €20 per service.

ECONOMY and COMFORT do not place an annual cap on these per-service deductibles. This means that frequent or ongoing treatment can lead to considerably higher annual cost sharing.

PREMIUM also applies a per-service deductible, but total cost sharing is capped at €500 per calendar year for adults and €250 for children. Once this limit is reached, no further performance-based deductible is charged for the remainder of the calendar year.

BUSINESS does not use the same per-service model. It applies a standard absolute deductible of €500 per calendar year for adults and €250 for children.

These systems are combined with premium refunds if no claims are submitted, creating a direct link between utilization and overall costs. Depending on the tariff and claim-free period, policyholders may receive up to 6 months of premiums back.

In practice, this means that lower use of medical services can significantly reduce net contributions.

International coverage

German international travel health insurance is clearly defined. Within Europe, coverage is generally unlimited.

Outside Europe it typically extends to around 6 months in tariffs such as COMFORT and up to 12 months in PREMIUM plans.

Expat Reality Check

Continentale’s full private health insurance is mainly relevant for people who qualify for long-term German PKV. This typically includes employees whose regular gross annual salary exceeds the 2026 Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze of €77,400, as well as established self-employed individuals and freelancers with a sustainable professional and financial situation.

Typical international students are generally not the main target group for these full PKV tariffs. Students under 30 are usually covered through statutory student health insurance unless they validly opt out at the beginning of their studies. Depending on their age and status, other students may instead compare voluntary GKV, qualifying private insurance, or temporary incoming products.

Job-seeker visa applicants also commonly rely on dedicated incoming or travel-style health insurance because they do not yet have the German employment or established self-employment basis normally associated with standard full PKV.

Dental and Vision Coverage

Private German dentist insurance in Continentale Krankenversicherung Private Health Insurance is included within the core tariffs rather than structured as a separate module. Preventive and conservative dental treatment is generally reimbursed at 100%. Dental prosthetics are reimbursed at approximately 60% in ECONOMY, 80% in COMFORT, and 85% in PREMIUM. BUSINESS also reimburses dental prosthetics at up to 85%, with higher annual benefit limits under its applicable Zahnstaffel. All reimbursements remain subject to the relevant tariff conditions and benefit limits.

For people covered under public health insurance, Continentale offers a range of dental supplementary tariffs, including StartZahn, KomfortVorsorge, ProfiVorsorge, and Exklusiv. These plans follow a tiered structure, with reimbursement levels for dental prosthetics increasing up to 100% in the most comprehensive option.

Vision benefits are also part of the private health insurance tariffs, with fixed allowances for glasses and contact lenses depending on the selected plan.

For individuals with statutory health insurance, ambulatory supplementary insurance includes additional support for visual aids and short-term international health coverage, typically for stays of up to 42 days.

Alternatives to Continentale Private Health Insurance

Traditional private health insurers typically differ in how they balance premium levels, deductible structures, and long-term coverage design.

• Allianz: Flexible tariffs with extensive modular options and a focus on comprehensive long-term coverage
• AXA: Integrated tariff structure with predefined benefits and less emphasis on deductibles
• DKV: Broad coverage with a more traditional private health insurance setup

Digital providers are built around simplified access, English-language support, and app-based policy management.

• ottonova: Offers the most comprehensive private health insurance setup within this group, combining digital access with a full insurance model
• Feather: Focuses on simplified onboarding and clear plan structures, particularly for international customers
• Getsafe: Emphasizes a mobile-first experience with streamlined products and quick setup, though with a narrower scope

Continentale differentiates itself through a stronger focus on cost participation and bonus-based incentives, which can reduce net premiums but require a more active approach to managing healthcare usage.

Conclusion

Continentale Private Health Insurance is based on deductibles and premium refunds, linking the use of medical services to overall costs. Its four core full-health-insurance plans are BUSINESS, COMFORT, ECONOMY, and PREMIUM.

ECONOMY generally charges €10 per medical service, while COMFORT and PREMIUM generally charge €20. ECONOMY and COMFORT do not have an annual cap, while PREMIUM limits total per-service deductible payments to €500 per calendar year for adults and €250 for children. BUSINESS instead uses a standard annual deductible of €500 for adults and €250 for children.

BUSINESS also differs through its integrated inpatient benefits, including single-room accommodation and chief physician treatment, without requiring SP1 or SP2. Its dental prosthetic reimbursement reaches up to 85%, with higher annual limits under the applicable Zahnstaffel.

In practice, this structure can reduce net premiums for policyholders who use fewer medical services and remain claim-free, particularly because premium refunds can reach up to six months of contributions. However, the uncapped per-service deductions in ECONOMY and COMFORT can be less suitable for people who require frequent or chronic treatment.

Continentale is primarily suited to long-term PKV-eligible customers, including employees earning above the applicable annual income threshold and established self-employed individuals. It should not be positioned as a typical solution for international students or job-seeker visa applicants, who more commonly require statutory student insurance or temporary incoming health insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Continentale Sachversicherung AG Contact

Address

Ruhrallee 92
44139 Dortmund

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Hotline Number

+49 231 9190

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E-Mail Address

info@continentale.de

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Website URL

www.continentale.de

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