German health insurance costs expected to rise sharply in 2026

Statutory health insurance providers in Germany are warning that additional health insurance contributions are likely to significantly increase from January 2026.

GKV costs will rise in January 2026

Statutory health insurance providers (Gesetzlichen Krankenversicherungen or GKV) are warning that additional contributions (Zusatzbeiträge) will significantly rise in January 2026, despite government efforts to minimise increases.

In Germany, everyone who earns less than 73.000 euros per year must contribute to the statutory health insurance system. Employees must contribute 14,6 percent of their salary, 7,3 percent is paid by the employee and the other 7,3 percent by their employer. 

However, depending on their provider, employees may also be charged an “additional contribution" of up to 4,4 percent (in 2025). The Zusatzbeitrag entitles patients to additional treatments, such as cancer screenings under 30, contraception or teeth cleaning. This is the contribution amount which will increase in 2026.

“Overall, it can be assumed that the actual contribution rates charged by health insurance funds at the beginning of 2026 will exceed 3 percent on average,” the association of statutory health insurance providers (GKV Spitzenverband) said in a report from Tagesschau. 

In October, the CDU/CSU-SPD government announced a two-billion-euro spending package intended to stabilise health insurance costs for residents, but the Spitzenverband sees this move only as a “step in the right direction”.

Technicker Krankenkasse, Germany’s largest statutory health insurance provider, agrees that “[The government’s interventions] are not enough to avoid additional contribution increases in 2026."

Insurers will announce concrete increases soon

Now that they’ve braced residents for price rises, statutory health insurance providers have said that they will announce concrete figures in the coming weeks.

In Germany, insured people have the right to change health insurance providers if their Zusatzbeitrag increases. If your rate increases and you would like to sign up with a different provider, you will have until January 31, 2026, to do so.