Health insurance in Germany will become more expensive in 2027: who will be affected by the change

In 2027, Germany plans to raise the income threshold used to calculate contributions to state health insurance. This will primarily affect high earners and self-employed individuals who pay the full contribution themselves. This is reported by Ausnews. Ukrainians in the country should consider these costs along with other conditions of health insurance in Germany.

How contributions to health insurance are calculated in Germany in 2026

In the public system GKV, the contribution depends on income but only up to a set threshold. In 2026, this is 69,750 euros per year, or 5,812.50 euros per month. Earnings above this amount are not subject to contributions. The overall rate is 14.6%, to which the specific health insurance fund's contribution is added. For employees, the amount is split between the employee and employer, while the self-employed typically pay the full amount.

According to Ausnews, if a person earns at the maximum threshold throughout their life, their total contributions could be significantly large. The publication provides a calculation over 67 years, but it assumes unchanged rates and income, so this is merely a hypothetical illustration, not a prediction of actual costs. There is a separate threshold for transitioning employees to private insurance. In 2026, this is set at 77,400 euros annual income.

What may change in Germany regarding health insurance in 2027

According to the publication, the project entails raising the monthly contribution threshold to 6,375 euros. Additionally, a one-time increase above the regular annual indexation of 300 euros to this threshold has already been approved by law. However, the final calculation figures for 2027 still need to be approved by the government and Bundesrat. According to the German Ministry of Health, this additional increase of 300 euros will approximately mean an additional 26 euros in monthly contributions for high-income GKV participants.

Private insurance PKV is not directly tied to salary: the price depends on age, health, and the chosen tariff. Before transitioning, it is important to consider that family members need separate contracts, and it can be difficult to return to the public system. It is also worth keeping an eye on changes in contributions from specific funds: they can change in Germany, and then the insured has the right to consider switching to another.