The government received the relieving message in the evening: The contribution rates for health insurance companies can remain stable on average in 2027. Nevertheless, many will have to pay more.
Berlin. Despite stable average additional contributions, many insured people in Germany are likely to have to pay more for their health insurance in the coming year. Health Minister Carsten Linnemann (CDU) announced a stable average additional contribution rate of 2.9 percent for 2027 after the group of estimators for statutory health insurance (GKV) had given its financial forecast. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds nevertheless warned of existing financial risks and criticized higher burdens for high earners. The additional contribution rate actually charged is the responsibility of the respective fund, as the group of appraisers emphasized.
After the official estimate was announced, Linnemann said: “We have achieved our most important goal: the average additional contribution rate will remain stable in the coming year.” A few minutes earlier, the experts from his ministry, the health insurance association and the Federal Office for Social Security in Bonn had announced that an calculated rate of unchanged 2.9 percent for 2027 resulted from estimated results.
The coalition had been working towards this sentence for months. For the first time in years, health insurance contributions are not expected to rise across the board. The Ministry of Health will announce the average additional contribution rate by November 1st. A billion-dollar law to stabilize the GKV finances by Linnemann's predecessor Nina Warken (CDU) came into force on July 30th. For many spouses and life partners, a 2.5 percent contribution will in future be due for co-insurance, which is currently free. Co-payments for medication increase by 50 percent. Spending curbs affect practices, clinics, pharmacies and the pharmaceutical industry.
In the morning, the Bundestag took stock. The SPD health politician Christos Pantazis used the debate about emergency reform to take a look at the circle of estimators: “The forecast shows: Our efforts to stabilize the GKV finances are bearing fruit.”
But the financial pressure remains. According to the group of estimators, statutory health insurance expenditure is expected to increase from 370.1 to 378.1 billion in one year. GKV association head Oliver Blatt warned that at the turn of the year there would still be cash registers with unfilled reserves and possibly increased financial needs. Blatt also cited the proposal for a location clause that would exempt German pharmaceutical companies from certain discounts as “a significant financial risk” for the GKV. Behind the scenes there is a debate about a major statutory health insurance reform. A Health Finance Commission, which was set up a little over a year ago, is expected to submit proposals.
One thing is clear: the 2.9 percent contribution rate is only a guide for the individual health insurance companies. The additional contribution rate actually charged is in addition to the general contribution rate of 14.6 percent of gross wages. According to figures from the health insurance companies, the actual level of additional contributions is now on average 3.1 percent. The range among the 93 health insurance companies ranges from 2.18 to 4.39 percent. The Green health politician Janosch Dahmen told the “Rheinische Post” (Thursday): “In 2027, the average additional contribution will actually be at least 3.1 percent again.”
High earners will have to pay more because of a higher contribution assessment limit. This threshold for collecting contributions is still around 5,800 euros per month; next year it is expected to rise to almost 6,400 euros.
“Like statutory health insurance, private health insurance is also affected by the high cost dynamics in the healthcare system,” says the director of the Association of Private Health Insurance (PKV), Florian Reuther. According to an overview by the association, which is available to the German Press Agency, the contributions for around 53 percent of those with private insurance are expected to increase on January 1st. The average adjustment is expected to be 13.4 percent. This was determined based on regular reviews of the contributions in the private health insurance companies. The use of certain surplus funds could reduce increases even further.
In 2025, PKV had to pay around 7.5 percent more for clinic treatments alone than in the previous year, 8 percent more for medicines, and 6 percent more for outpatient medical treatment.
The coalition improved its cash savings package in the final stages. Attached to the emergency reform, some hardships were alleviated and savings were made elsewhere. Among other things, certain discounts for family doctor-centered care and a cost regulation at the expense of family doctors and pediatricians were deleted. In addition, according to the approved draft, the health insurance companies must inform their members again if the additional contribution increases.
Things are not going to be quiet in the healthcare system. The General Practitioners Association, for example, praised the government's “backbone” for readjustments. Nevertheless: Services would be canceled and preventive examinations would be budgeted. The doctors criticize that the practices “clearly feel this.”
