GKV Warns: Supplementary Health Insurance Contributions May Exceed 3% in 2026

Because of the still unresolved dispute over the government's austerity package for health insurance funds, their umbrella organization expects significantly higher supplementary contributions next year. - AFP

Due to the ongoing unresolved dispute over the government’s savings package for health insurance funds, the leading association of statutory health insurers (GKV) expects significant increases in supplementary contributions next year. Oliver Blatt, head of the GKV association, told Wirtschaftswoche that realistically, "we must assume that supplementary contributions next year will rise on average to significantly above 3%."

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The supplementary contribution is set by the individual funds depending on their financial situation and is added to the general rate of 14.6%. Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) recently announced that the average supplementary contribution for health insurers would be set at 2.9%, lower than Blatt’s forecast. Blatt had already warned at the time of Warken’s announcement that the so-called estimator committee had not taken all factors into account.

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He now described it as "fatal for contributors and for the German economy" that the Bundesrat blocked Warken’s savings package. On Friday, the federal states sent the Care Competence Act, which the savings package was tied to, to the mediation committee. The package was intended to reduce statutory health insurance spending by 1.8 billion euros in 2026.

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The states cited missing funds for hospitals as a reason for their objection. It remains uncertain whether an agreement can be reached before the end of the year. Against this background, AOK CEO Carola Reimann criticized Warken for addressing only details. "The fundamental problem, that our healthcare system consumes more and more contribution funds while performance for insured persons and patients is deteriorating, is not solved by this," she told Wirtschaftswoche.

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Barmer announced on Thursday that it would keep its contribution rate stable at the turn of the year, though the final decision will only be made on December 19. The fund’s supplementary contribution currently stands at 3.29%, already above the set average rate.

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