Guides
More take-home pay –
without a pay rise
The easiest way to more take-home pay at the end of the month isn't a salary negotiation – it's switching health insurer. We explain how, and how much.
How it works
Why does switching insurer lower your deduction?
Your health insurance contribution is made up of two parts – and only one of them is the same for everyone.
General contribution rate: 14.6%
This part is set by law and identical at all insurers. You can't influence it – no matter which insurer you're with.
Additional contribution: varies by insurer
Each insurer sets its own additional contribution. This is exactly where you can make a difference. The range between the cheapest and the most expensive insurer is around 2.2 percentage points – and you'll notice it directly on your payslip.
More take-home pay – without negotiating your salary
A lower additional contribution has a direct effect on your payslip: with €3,000 gross and a 1% difference, that's +€15 net per month – with a 2% difference as much as +€30 / month (€360 a year). From €5,000 gross it can be up to €600 more net pay a year. Since 2019 the additional contribution has been split equally between employee and employer – the amounts above are already your personal benefit after this split. Your employer saves too.
Real figures
This much more take-home pay is possible
What does a difference in the additional contribution mean in euros on your payslip? The table shows it for different income levels.
* Contribution assessment ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze, BBG) 2026: €5,812.50 / month. Above this income, the contribution deduction does not increase any further. All values refer to the employee's share (50% of the additional contribution). In 2026 the maximum difference between the highest and the lowest additional contribution is around 2.2 percentage points (around 1.9 among insurers available nationwide) – so the 2% column roughly reflects this maximum case.
Comparison
Switching insurer vs. pay rise
Both bring more take-home pay – but only one of them is entirely in your hands.
Pay rise
Needs your employer's approval, an annual review, negotiation. Part of the rise is eaten up again by progressive tax and social security contributions. No entitlement, no guaranteed result.
Switching health insurer
Is entirely in your hands. Applied for online in a few minutes, without your employer’s approval. The lower contribution deduction appears on the first payslip after the switch takes effect – directly visible, with nothing more for you to do.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about more take-home pay through switching
How much more take-home pay does switching health insurer actually bring?
Do I have to tell my employer about the switch?
Will I lose benefits if I switch to a cheaper insurer?
When does the switch affect my salary?
Does switching health insurer count towards social security contributions?
Why is the comparison free?
The comparison and any advice are completely free of charge for you. We only receive remuneration if a switch of health insurer takes place – and it comes from the receiving health insurer, not from you. You incur no costs and no obligations whatsoever.
you, always
You don't have to cancel your old health insurance yourself. Your new insurer handles the entire cancellation. You just briefly tell your employer which insurer you're switching to – the new insurer then sends them the membership certificate (Mitgliedsbescheinigung) electronically.
The entire switch happens online. No public office, no fax, no waiting room. Your membership application takes just a few minutes to submit online.
All statutory health insurers open nationwide are obliged to accept members – with no health check and no waiting period. Company health insurers (Betriebskrankenkassen) may be restricted to certain groups of people.