Overview

• Leaders reached an in‑principle deal in the Koalitionsausschuss on Wednesday night to prevent a January 1, 2026 increase, according to participant accounts reported by Reuters.
• CDU/CSU floor leader Jens Spahn said the parties agree social insurance contributions should not rise, framing it as a signal of stability for the insured.
• The target is to hold the statutory health rate at 14.6% and the long‑term care rate at 3.6%, though the legal and fiscal path to do so remains undecided.
• Government calculations cited in reports put the budget impact of offsetting a 0.1‑point care contribution change at about €2 billion, highlighting the trade‑off between higher subsidies and sector savings.
• Coalition chiefs set three further committee meetings before Christmas and flagged sector summits on steel and autos, with broader social reforms described as a shared goal.