German health insurance providers announce price rises

Some of Germany’s statutory health insurance providers have announced their additional contribution price rises for 2026. Here’s what you need to know.

Health insurance additional contribution rates to rise in 2026

Everyone who works in Germany and earns below the salary threshold for private health insurance (77.400 euros per year in 2026) must pay 14,6 percent of their monthly salary towards statutory health insurance. 7,3 percent is paid by the employee and the other 7,3 percent by their employer. 

However, depending on your health insurance provider, you may also be charged an “additional contribution" (Zusatzbeitrag), and the Zusatzbeitrag rates typically change every year. Some of Germany’s major statutory health insurance providers have just announced their rates for 2026.

The additional contribution rate for people who are covered by the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), the most common statutory health insurance provider in Germany, will increase from 2,45 to 2,69 percent in 2026. Those covered by DAK-Gesundheit will see their rates rise from 2,8 to 3,2 percent.

Other providers are yet to announce if their rates will increase. If your health insurance provider plans to increase additional contribution rates in 2026, you will be notified.

Government and insurance providers point fingers on price rises

Back in November, statutory health insurance providers warned that additional contribution rates could rise sharply in 2026. Now, providers are saying the CDU/CSU-SPD coalition government has not done enough to stabilise prices and that hikes could have been avoided.

Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) accused statutory providers of passing the buck. "If the health insurance companies say that only the others are to blame, they are making it too easy for themselves," the minister told Süddeutsche Zeitung. "Everyone has responsibility, including the health insurance companies."

Germany’s federal healthcare expenditure continues to be close to 500 billion euros per year, around 12,8 percent of GDP, with the majority being funded from statutory health insurance contributions.