Overview

• Reports say the cabinet is expected to approve a regulation on Wednesday to lift the assessment ceilings for pension, health and long-term care contributions starting in January 2026.
• The pension insurance ceiling would rise to €8,450 a month from €8,050, and the health and care ceiling to €5,812.50 from €5,512.50, with private insurance eligibility moving to €6,450.
• About 2.1 million higher earners would pay more into the pension system and roughly 5.5 million employees would see higher health and care contributions.
• Estimated individual effects cited include around €33 more per month for singles earning €6,000–€8,000 and about €75 more from €8,500 and above.
• CDU figures criticize the move as a burden on the middle class, while insurer leaders flag a funding shortfall and point to the Oct. 15 Schätzerkreis forecast as the next marker for contribution decisions.