From January you pay more yourself for prescriptions, in hospital and for dentures, no insurer pays for homeopathy any more, and the contribution thresholds rise. What stays the same: each insurer sets its own additional contribution – and that's where you can save.
For medicines you still pay 10% of the price, but at least €7.50 instead of €5 and at most €15 instead of €10. In hospital €15 instead of €10 per day; for physiotherapy and similar treatments €15 instead of €10 per prescription plus 10% of the costs.
The fixed subsidy falls from 60% to 50% of standard care, with a bonus booklet to 60% (after five years) or 65% (after ten years). For treatment plans your insurer approves in 2026, the old rates still apply.
From 2027, insurers no longer pay for homeopathic and anthroposophic medicines and treatments at all – not even as an extra benefit. Herbal medicines are not affected.
The contribution assessment ceiling rises to €6,375 a month, the compulsory insurance threshold to €84,150 a year – with a grandfathering threshold of €80,550 for people already privately insured. Higher earners pay more. The Bundesrat still has to approve.
The official average stays at 2.9% in 2027. What you pay is decided by your insurer – most set their rate in November and December. The range already runs from 2.18% to 4.39%.
Self-employed people who opt into sick pay by declaration will have to wait three months from 2027 – unless they declare it within 14 days of their membership starting. If your job ends while you are ill, you then receive 60% of your net pay, 67% with a child.
Most changes come from the GKV contribution rate stabilisation act (published in July 2026), the thresholds from the 2027 calculation values ordinance. Everything applies equally at all statutory insurers – except the additional contribution.
Since 30 July 2026
1 January 2027
1 January 2028
1 July 2028
Enter your salary and a rough idea of what you need in a year. The calculator shows what the higher contribution ceiling and higher copayments cost you – and what switching saves.
Higher contribution ceiling–
Higher copayments–
Extra in 2027–
Switching from 2.9% to 2.18% additional contribution saves you–
Compare insurers →Your share as an employee only, per year, before tax, without guarantee. Contribution ceiling: health (14.6% + 2.9%) and long-term care insurance (3.6%, with children) on the part between €5,812.50 and €6,375, half each. Prescriptions: €2.50 more each (medicines up to €75; up to €5 more for pricier ones). Hospital: €5 more per day, at most 28 days. Therapeutic treatments: €5 more per prescription. Copayments are capped at 2% of your gross annual income, 1% for the chronically ill – the calculator does not take this into account. Saving: 0.72 percentage points difference, your half share up to the new ceiling; regional insurers are not available everywhere.
What counts is the insurer's approval, not the treatment date. Have the treatment and cost plan prepared in time and submit it. An approved plan is usually valid for six months.
Because insurers no longer have to write to you, check yourself what yours charges from January. If it raises its rate, you can give notice until 31 January 2027 – even without 12 months of membership. If you've been a member for 12 months, you can switch at any time.
Additional contributions of all insurers →You never have to pay more than 2% of your gross annual income in copayments, 1% with a chronic illness. With higher copayments, more people will reach this limit. Keep the receipts and apply to your insurer for an exemption.
Calculate your co-payment limit →From 2027 the sick pay declaration usually only takes effect after three months. If you want sick pay and haven't chosen it yet, talk to your insurer about submitting the declaration in 2026.
Health insurance for the self-employed →If you earn no more than €80,550 in 2027, you become publicly insured again. You can apply for an exemption until 31 March 2027 – it cannot be revoked.
From private back to public health insurance →From 2028, family insurance for your partner costs a surcharge – around €100 a month on €4,000 gross. Check whether an exemption applies – or whether a job with its own statutory insurance is worthwhile for your partner (a mini-job alone isn't enough).
All details on the surcharge →Sources: GKV contribution rate stabilisation act, BGBl. 2026 I No. 228 · Federal Government: calculation values 2027 (cabinet decision 07.10.2026) · Federal Ministry of Health: average additional contribution 2027 (30.10.2026) · Haufe: new sick pay rules from 2027 · List of health insurers published by the GKV-Spitzenverband · own calculation, without guarantee. All reports with links are in our news. As of 4 November 2026.
