Increased contributions may witness a significant rise, according to the Court of Auditors
Rising Health Insurance Contributions Pose Challenge for German Subscribers
German health insurance subscribers are bracing for increasing additional contributions, as financial deficits in the statutory health insurance (GKV) system continue to widen. The gap between revenues and expenditures is projected to grow by 6 to 8 billion euros each year, according to industry experts.
In 2025, nine public health insurers raised their "additional contribution rates" (Zusatzbeitrag), with Barmer's rate reaching 3.29% and others like TK and DAK also increasing contributions. This trend reflects growing financial pressure on the system, and experts caution that contributions might further rise, pushing the total social security contributions closer to 43% of income.
For a monthly salary of 4,000 euros, an additional 750 euros per year could be expected for health insurance due to potential contribution rates of up to 18.65%. The financial situation of statutory health insurance is described as alarmingly poor by Florian Lanz, spokesman for the association of statutory health insurers.
The total social security contribution increased by almost 1.5 percentage points to 42.3 percent in 2025. Premium increases in health insurance in 2025 were unprecedented in scale, with the average additional contribution rate for health insurance in 2025 having exceeded the expected increase, reaching 2.9% instead of the targeted 2.5%.
To address these deficits, Germany is exploring structural reforms aimed at stabilizing the public health insurance financing. These reforms include reworking the health fund financing system, tiered long-term care insurance contributions, ongoing health system-wide reforms, and enhanced focus on preventive care and incentivization programs.
The association of statutory health insurers believes that the current situation requires decisive political action rather than relying on loans to soften premium increases. Florian Lanz demands a spending freeze to prevent reimbursements, budgets, and fees from increasing more than revenues.
However, the future premium increase is planned to be softened by a loan, i.e., new debt, according to Florian Lanz. Paula Piechotta, Green Party budget and health policy spokeswoman, criticizes the coalition for not having the power or unity to push through a real reform in health and long-term care insurance. The Federal Court of Auditors also criticizes the federal government for inaction.
In the medium scenario, the Federal Ministry of Health expects an additional contribution of 4.05 percent by 2029. The average additional contribution rate is predicted to increase by 0.3 percentage points per year. These combined efforts are designed to reduce the need for high additional contributions by improving cost management within statutory health insurance and adapting the system to demographic and economic challenges.
- Inevitably, the escalating health insurance contributions in Germany are a subject of critical debate within the realm of policy-and-legislation, as they pose significant challenges for subscribers.
- As part of the ongoing efforts to tackle the financial deficits within the statutory health insurance system, there is a growing emphasis on science-based solutions within health-and-wellness, such as preventive care and incentivization programs.
- Amidst calls for decisive political action from influencers like Florian Lanz, the general-news media continues to closely monitor the unfolding controversy surrounding the policy changes and their potential impact on German citizens' wellbeing.
