Overview
- The Health Ministry set the 2026 average additional contribution at 2.9 percent, while individual funds diverge with TK at 2.69 percent, DAK at 3.2 percent, AOK Rheinland/Hamburg at 3.29 percent and R+V BKK at 3.49 percent, as Barmer, Debeka BKK and AOK Plus hold their rates.
- The Federal Office for Social Security reports that 26 of 57 insurers plan to increase their surcharge on 1 January, 29 expect no change and two plan reductions, with many board decisions and approvals still pending.
- Any surcharge increase is split equally between employers and employees, so a 0.4 percentage-point rise at a fund raises the employee share by 0.2 points and trims net pay.
- Although the contribution ceiling for 2026 lifts the theoretical gross sickness benefit maximum to about €135.63 per day, the rule capping payments at 90 percent of net income can lower actual payouts as higher employee contributions reduce the relevant net.
- Policyholders can use a special termination right to switch when a fund raises its surcharge, and the GKV-Spitzenverband’s public list shows new rates only from the date they take effect.