Reverting to public health insurance over age 55

Hi everyone... once again I'm in need of some help/advice

I am currently privately insured for health. From January 08 I will continue to work for the same employer, but in a part-time capacity. My pay will decrease below the level at which I can be privately insured and I'm told that I must take compulsory (public) cover instead. However, I've also been told that, at age 55 or over (which I am), it's not possible to revert to public insurance! I can't get a definitive answer to this dilemma and, to be honest, I would prefer to stay privately insured anyway. Can anyone with knowledge about this help me please?

Thanks
cruiser

The information about your age is correct. At this age (>55y) you can not revert to public health insurance and will have to stay in the private health insurance - and if that is what you want in the first place, all the better for you! Just understand that your monthly premium will not go down in private health insurance because you get a lower salary now... this is the downside of it. If the premium amount it too high you, try to get a lower premium by either increasing the deductible or by shedding some of the coverage

Cheerio

Thank you Starshollow!

Something I forgot to mention is that a representative from TKK (the prospective public insurer) recently told me just this, but then she hesitated and made a phone call somewhere. She then told me that, as I had previously lived in the UK or had been privately insured here for less than a certain period (I'm not really sure which applies), I could (must?) revert to public insurance... trouble is, she spoke no English and, due to my poor German, something may have been lost. Any thoughts on this before I make my plans?

Guess I must pass here... the law and regulations regarding public insurance have so many loopholes and sub-regulations that I can not exclude that there might be a special exception to the basic rule. but tell you what: if you give me the number of the lady I give her a call, maybe I can understand her better and explain it to you.

Cheerio