Contribution increase in statutory health insurance: mechanism, range and special right of termination

The general contribution rate of statutory health insurance is 14.6 percent and is set by law, uniformly across Germany. An increase therefore does not come through this rate, but only through the Zusatzbeitrag (i) of the individual fund under § 242 SGB V. This nationwide uniform rate goes back to the Act to Strengthen Competition in Statutory Health Insurance.

Each statutory health insurance fund sets this Zusatzbeitrag (i) on its own and adjusts it every year or, if needed, during the year. If a fund raises its Zusatzbeitrag, insured people receive a notice of the contribution change. This notice automatically triggers the special right of termination.

When a fund raises its contribution, the cause is almost always the additional contribution set by that fund. In 2026, the range among large funds runs from 2.18 to 4.39 percent.

On an income at the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze of €5,812.50 per month, that means a difference of over €120 per month between the cheapest and the most expensive large fund. If you do not switch after an increase, you may pay more than necessary for good.

After a contribution increase, an orderly approach in four steps pays off:

• Check the special right of termination under § 175 (4) SGB V and note the deadline.
• Look at the current list of additional contributions from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds and find the cheapest suitable fund.
• Start the change of fund. It happens without a gap and without a new waiting period.
• If increases repeat, check whether a switch to private health insurance would be cheaper or offer better benefits in the long term.

A minimum membership of twelve months with your current fund does not stand in the way, because the special right of termination lifts it in the case of an increase.

The maximum contribution in statutory health insurance has risen considerably in nine years:

This trend comes from the rise in the Beitragsbemessungsgrenze (i)BBG · BeitragsbemessungsgrenzeThe contribution ceiling of statutory health and long-term care insurance. Income above this amount is not used to calculate contributions.More about BBG → and the rising additional contributions of the funds. If you think statutory insurance is a system with stable costs, you underestimate this development. For insured people with higher incomes, comparing with private premiums is therefore not a theoretical exercise, but a concrete decision every year.

We have supported more than 5,000 applications with health questions. After a contribution increase, a common reason for advice is the question whether now would be the right time to switch to private health insurance.

With every contribution increase, we recommend that you first choose the cheapest fund within statutory insurance. A switch to private health insurance is a decision for your whole life, a change of fund only a decision for the year. Only if someone faces repeated increases, is healthy and has a stable income does a detailed comparison with a private plan over the whole period of insurance pay off.

Then the normal notice period to the end of the month after next applies. So a change of fund remains possible, it just takes effect a little later.

Yes. Membership with the old fund ends on the set date, and the new one starts without a gap. There is no period without contributions, but there is no double payment either.

No. The contribution rate of each fund applies equally to all its insured people and cannot be negotiated. The only way to lower your contribution is to switch to a fund with a lower Zusatzbeitrag (i).