Preventive Medicine Berlin: Top Clinics Compared (2025)

Preventive Medicine in Berlin: Providers, Costs and Comparison

The German healthcare system treats disease very well. What it structurally does less well is intervene early, before symptoms appear. Preventive medicine starts exactly there. Anyone living in Berlin, where professional pressure, long working hours, and high expectations around personal performance often come together, now has access to a broad range of preventive health programs. The challenge is less availability than orientation: programs differ substantially in depth, methodology, and price.

This article compares preventive medicine providers in Berlin in practical terms. What is measured, what does it cost, and which program is sufficient for which situation? The answer is not the same for everyone. A 38-year-old manager with a family history of cardiovascular disease needs something different from someone looking to go beyond the standard statutory health check for the first time.

What is preventive medicine – and why is demand growing in Berlin?

Preventive medicine aims to prevent disease or detect it early and reduce risk factors before they become clinically relevant. The three classic levels are:

• Primary prevention: Prevents disease from developing through vaccinations, nutrition counseling, or lifestyle changes.
• Secondary prevention: Detects disease at an asymptomatic stage through screenings and preventive examinations.
• Tertiary prevention: Prevents complications and recurrence in people with established diagnoses, for example through rehabilitation after a heart attack.

Modern preventive care combines primary and secondary prevention. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading group of causes of death in Germany. A heart attack in middle age is often the result of processes that began many years earlier, at a time when there were no symptoms and no diagnosis. Waiting until symptoms appear means losing valuable time during which risk factors could already have been identified and addressed.

Berlin attracts a health-conscious and internationally oriented population. Startup founders, investors, physicians, executives working 60-hour weeks: people who see their body as an asset and are willing to invest in it before something goes wrong.

What should you look for in a preventive medicine provider in Berlin?

Six criteria can help with the selection.

1. Diagnostic depth: How many biomarkers, and which ones?

The statutory health check from age 35 includes, among other things, blood glucose and a lipid profile. Advanced programs such as YEARS analyze 87 to more than 120 biomarkers. The number alone matters less than the clinical relevance of the parameters measured. Important markers that are not part of the routine statutory health check include:

• ApoB (Apolipoprotein B): Reflects the number of atherogenic lipoprotein particles and can provide additional information on cardiovascular risk, particularly when lipid markers are discordant.
• hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein): A marker of low-grade systemic inflammation that is associated with cardiovascular risk.
• Lp(a) (Lipoprotein(a)): A largely genetically determined cardiovascular risk factor that is not part of the routine statutory health check.
• HOMA Index: A surrogate marker used to estimate insulin resistance.

2. Imaging: Ultrasound, MRI, or none?

Imaging can identify structural changes that blood tests cannot show. A basic health check usually does not include imaging. More advanced programs may include ultrasound of the heart, abdominal organs, thyroid, and blood vessels. Whole-body MRI can assess the body from head to pelvis for structural abnormalities such as tumors, aneurysms, or other findings. In asymptomatic individuals, however, its value as a general screening method has not yet been conclusively established; incidental findings can also lead to further investigations.

3. Longevity focus: Disease detection vs. performance optimization

A traditional health check looks for disease. A longevity clinic additionally measures parameters related to physical and cognitive performance:

• VO₂max: Cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the strongest prognostic markers for long-term all-cause mortality.
• HRV (heart rate variability): Reflects variation in the intervals between heartbeats and is used as a marker of autonomic regulation.
• Biological clocks (epigenetic age): Provide statistical estimates of biological aging characteristics. Their individual clinical actionability is currently still limited.

4. Medical guidance: Test results vs. a concrete plan

A good provider does not hand over a folder with 80 laboratory values and leave you alone with it. The key part is the physician consultation, where findings are integrated, risks are prioritized, and concrete next steps for the coming 12 months are discussed.

5. Private insurance reimbursement and GOÄ billing

Preventive medicine is often self-paid. People with private health insurance should check in advance which preventive and diagnostic services are covered by their individual policy. A GOÄ-compliant invoice is the basis for standard private medical billing, but it does not guarantee full reimbursement. Diagnostics performed because of a specific medical indication may be assessed differently by insurers than purely preventive testing. Checking with your insurer beforehand is advisable.

6. Scientific basis

Does the provider work according to standardized clinical protocols? Are validated methods used, medical guidelines taken into account, and scientific rationales communicated transparently? These factors help assess whether a program is based on current evidence or primarily on marketing.

Preventive medicine providers in Berlin: An overview

The Berlin market can broadly be divided into three segments.

Segment A: Statutory basic care (Check-up 35)

People with statutory health insurance from age 35 are entitled to a general health examination every three years. The check includes medical history, physical examination, blood pressure, blood testing for glucose and a lipid profile, and a urine examination. Imaging, performance diagnostics, and extensive advanced laboratory testing are not included. It provides a basic snapshot.

Segment B: Private preventive health centers

Several private medical practices and centers in Berlin offer expanded health checks priced between €500 and €2,000. These programs are often modular and typically include broader laboratory testing, resting and exercise ECGs, and ultrasound. An explicit longevity focus or whole-body MRI remains relatively uncommon.

Segment C: Longevity clinics

This segment is still relatively young in Germany. The focus goes beyond early disease detection and also includes the active optimization of healthspan and performance. YEARS combines comprehensive diagnostics in Berlin with its own research approach, "Clinic-as-a-Study."

For context: Preventicum in Hamburg and Essen offers very extensive health checks but has no Berlin location. Lanserhof in Sylt and Tegernsee integrates diagnostics into multi-day residential stays. YEARS operates on an outpatient basis, with the testing performed within one day.

Comparison table: Preventive medicine providers in Berlin at a glance

Editorial note: Information about competitors is based on publicly available information and is intended for general market orientation. Prices and services may vary.

YEARS Berlin: Longevity clinic with research integration

YEARS is not a traditional check-up practice. The clinic in Berlin-Charlottenburg was founded with the aim of structurally combining high-quality diagnostics with scientific research. Behind YEARS is Apollo Health Ventures, one of Europe’s leading longevity investors. The "Clinic-as-a-Study" model means that participants who consent can contribute anonymized data to a longitudinal research database designed to systematically study aging processes.

The medical director is Dr. med. Jan K. Hennigs, a former Research Fellow at Stanford University and author of numerous scientific publications. The program is divided into two main tiers.

The YEARS Core® Program (€1,900): The comprehensive baseline

Six hours, one day, and a medical data baseline that goes far beyond a standard health check:

• Laboratory panel (87+ biomarkers): HOMA Index, ApoB, hs-CRP, Lp(a), Omega-3 Index, 25-OH vitamin D, ferritin, and comprehensive thyroid diagnostics.
• Imaging: Extended ultrasound of the heart, abdominal organs (liver, kidneys), thyroid, and blood vessels.
• Lung function: Measurement of lung volumes and gas exchange using body plethysmography, substantially more comprehensive than simple spirometry.
• Performance diagnostics: VO₂max measurement via cardiopulmonary exercise testing, HRV testing, muscle strength assessments.
• AI-supported screenings: AI-assisted retinal imaging and AI-supported skin cancer screening.
• Additional diagnostics: Neurocognitive testing, bone density measurement, 3D body scan.

The YEARS Evolve® Program (€7,600): The most advanced diagnostic tier

Evolve® builds on Core® and adds several methods that are rarely combined in an outpatient setting in Germany:

• Whole-body MRI: A proprietary YEARS MRI protocol scans from head to pelvis for structural abnormalities.
• Liquid Biopsy: A blood test (truCheck) is used to search for circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The test can provide indications of up to 70 different solid tumor types and remains under active clinical development. It is a complementary screening tool, not a definitive cancer diagnosis, and does not replace established organ-specific cancer screening. More information is available on the Liquid Biopsy page.
• Biological clocks: Seven epigenetic clocks provide estimates of different biological aging characteristics.
• YEARS Biological Safe: 70 cryopreserved samples, including blood, stool, urine, and others, are stored for future analyses.

All findings are integrated into a personalized YEARS Health Report of more than 60 pages. A detailed strategy consultation with a physician concludes the process. Billing is carried out according to GOÄ. Those who also want genomic and microbiome analyses can access these through the YEARS Ultimate® program.

Which level is right for whom?

Persona 1: The health-conscious beginner (age 35+)

Looking for a first evidence-based baseline, privately insured, and willing to invest.

• Recommendation: A good private medical check-up program or YEARS Core® as a data-driven starting point.

Persona 2: The executive with limited time

High workload, no interest in coordinating appointments with multiple specialists over several months, and wants a clear result within one day.

• Recommendation: YEARS Core® or Evolve®. The entire process is designed for efficiency. The Executive Check-up offering is tailored to this type of use case.

Persona 3: The longevity enthusiast

Reads Peter Attia, is interested in epigenetics and biological age, and wants omics data and biobanking.

• Recommendation: YEARS Evolve® or Ultimate®. From whole-body MRI to epigenetic clocks, scientifically contextualized and medically supervised.

Persona 4: The cautious person with a family history

Cancer or premature cardiovascular disease in the family, with a strong focus on early detection.

• Recommendation: YEARS Evolve®. The combination of extensive laboratory diagnostics, whole-body MRI, and Liquid Biopsy is among the most comprehensive outpatient screening options available in Berlin.

Comprehensive diagnostics can identify incidental findings. A responsible provider explains this risk beforehand and supports you through the next steps if an unexpected finding occurs.

Which provider is right for you?

For free basic preventive care, the statutory health check with your general practitioner is the appropriate starting point. For an expanded check-up with more laboratory parameters and ultrasound, private preventive medicine centers offer useful options. Those looking for comprehensive, scientifically grounded prevention with a longevity focus, extensive diagnostics within one day, and medical integration into a clear strategy can find a particularly broad package at YEARS.

Would you like to find out which YEARS program best fits your situation?

Book a free consultation now.

This article is intended for general information and does not replace individualized medical advice. The programs described are diagnostic measures for preventive purposes and are not therapeutic treatments.

Sources

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