German health insurance contributions will “remain stable” in 2027

Federal Health Minister Carsten Linnemann (CDU) has said that additional contribution rates for German statutory health insurance will remain stable in 2027. What does it mean for you?

Average additional contributions will stick at 2,9 percent

According to a financial assessment by Germany’s statutory health insurance committee, average additional contribution (Zusatzbeiträge) rates should remain stable at 2,9 percent in 2027. 

Everyone covered by public health insurance pays 14,6 percent of their monthly salary towards their statutory health insurance plan, with employee and employer each contributing 7,3 percent. 

On top of this 14,6 percent base rate, statutory health insurance companies can set different rates for additional contributions, which entitle patients to additional treatments, such as cancer screenings under 30, contraception or teeth cleaning. However, the government sets a benchmark for these rates.

Linnemann said the benchmark's stability was a “good sign” after consecutive, significant rises in recent years. This is the first time in almost five years that the average additional contribution rate has remained stable.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the average additional contribution rate has risen from 1,1 percent to 2,9 percent. The figure last stabilised in 2022, when it remained at 1,3 percent. It rose to 1,6 percent in 2023, 1,7 percent in 2024, significantly jumped to 2,5 percent in 2025 and then to 2,9 percent in 2026.

What does the stable contribution rate mean for you?

So what do all these percentages mean for you? As mentioned, the average additional contribution rate is a government-set “benchmark”. Statutory health insurance providers can then set their own rate.

For example, in 2026, the statutory health insurance provider with the lowest additional contribution rate was TUI BKK (2,5 percent), and the provider with the highest rate was BKK 24 (4,39 percent).

In late November or December, health insurance providers typically release information about their additional contribution rates for the coming year. When they announce the new rate, your health insurance provider should notify you. 

If your provider increases its additional contribution rate, you have a special right to terminate, no matter how long you have held your policy. You just need to switch your provider before the end of the month in which you were informed of the change.

To minimise bureaucracy, health insurance companies must handle the switchover. So, if you decide to change, you simply need to take out a new policy with your preferred Krankenkasse. They will inform your old insurer and terminate your previous policy.

Why is the Zusatzbeitrag rate stabilising?

Put simply, the additional contribution rate is stabilising because the CDU/CSU-SPD government passed the statutory healthcare reform in July. 

The more than 60 measures in the austerity plan mean that while additional contribution rates will remain stable, everyone with statutory health insurance coverage will be entitled to fewer subsidised treatments and services.

For example, prescription fees will increase, spousal health insurance will no longer be free, and several treatment areas will be cut, including teeth replacements. From 2027, government subsidies for statutory health insurance will fall from 14,5 billion euros to 14,15 billion euros.

In 2026, statutory providers are expected to spend 370,1 billion euros and make 312,2 billion euros in revenue. In 2027, spending is expected to rise to 378,1 billion euros and revenue to 320,7 billion euros.

Announcing the stabilised additional contribution rates, Linnemann said that the “tense” fiscal situation was far from over.