Overview

• The cabinet approved higher contribution assessment ceilings from January 2026—€5,812.50 monthly for statutory health and long‑term care and €8,450 for pension insurance—with Bundesrat sign‑off still pending.
• Health Minister Nina Warken is considering about a 50% rise in patient cost‑sharing, including 15% co‑pays for prescription drugs and €15 per hospital day, while stressing that no decision has been made and household burden caps would continue to apply.
• The coalition cleared the Aktivrente starting 1 January 2026, allowing employees past the standard retirement age to earn up to €2,000 per month tax‑free without a progressions effect, with annual fiscal costs estimated around €890 million.
• Self‑employed workers and many mini‑jobbers are excluded from the Aktivrente, prompting criticism from social groups that warn of limited reach and potential windfall effects.
• Deloitte projects the statutory health insurance deficit could reach €89–98 billion by 2030 without reforms and expects the average Zusatzbeitrag to rise by 0.4 percentage points next year, fueling calls from insurers and opposition parties for structural changes over higher patient charges.