Quitting a private health insurance contract

I find myself in an odd situation. Since I've been here I have been paying into a very expensive private German health insurance for my wife and I. As of a month ago, we now have cheaper insurance provided to us through my wife's work.

However, the German insurance does not want to let us out saying that we signed a contract with them (apparently I did, I dunno). The only way to "officially" get out is to deregister and leave the country which isn't much of an option.

Fortunately I have a German middle-man who speaks great English working on the situation for me. However he's not holding out much hope.

Does anyone have any bright ideas as to how I can escape the German insurance? Can I assume if I don't pay my bills that they'll come after me for the money eventually?

I realize I signed something and if I have to, I'll suck it up and pay but obviously I don't want to...sigh.

Another situation where the German system squashes competition. If you could just get out of a contract, wouldn't you be always shopping around for a better deal?

Sorry that I don't know the answer to your question, but I'll be watching this thread to find out the answer.

Well, here is what I did. I do not advice it, but it worked for me.

I had the same problemw ith Allianz. Apparantly I could not quit till the end of the year. The only way was if I was leaving the country.

I went to KVR and deregistered. I mentioned that I am going to be in India for a while. I send Allianz the Abmeldung form and they cancelled my contract. I went to KVR and registered myself again.

Worked for me.