The Federal Council has stopped a government savings package for statutory health insurance. Will your contribution increase even more now? There is still hope, but it could be too late for 2026.
Munich – The Federal Council has temporarily stopped a two billion euro savings package from the federal government for statutory health insurance. This should save a lot of money from 2026, especially in hospitals.
The idea: So far, some of the clinics have received more money than their own costs have increased. In the future, however, they should only receive as much as the average costs have increased nationwide.
Austerity package can still come – but too late?
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However, the federal states did not like this new plan. They worry about the financial situation of the local clinics. That is why the Federal Council is now sending the law to the mediation committee. The austerity package has not yet been completely canceled. It could still come, possibly changed.
The problem despite this opportunity: Such an agreement could come too late to be taken into account when the health insurance companies have to calculate their contributions for 2026.
What this means for you
In 2026, you must expect additional contributions to rise even more sharply than already. Even with the savings package, both the health insurance companies and Finanztip have already expected rising contributions for 2026. Many health insurance companies also have to replenish their reserves. Now there are at least delays in the austerity package.
The average additional contribution is currently 2.9 percent, weighted according to the number of members. According to the government’s plans, it should actually stay that way. Without weighting, according to Finanztip calculations it is already 3.1 percent anyway. In 2026 you must now expect another few tenths of a percentage point to be added.
After all: As with the general contribution rate (14.6 percent of gross salary), your employer continues to pay half of the additional contribution. For example, if your contribution increased from 3.1 to 3.6 percent, you would have to pay 125 euros more per year for a gross annual gross of 50,000 euros.
We will find the best offer for you
Good for you: You can easily switch to a cheaper health insurance provider. And it’s worth it: For example, there is currently a difference of more than two percentage points between the most expensive and cheapest health insurance – and therefore, depending on your salary, you can save several hundred euros a year.
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In addition, Finanztip is at your side in the upcoming wave of increases: As soon as the additional contributions and benefits for 2026 have been determined, we will again evaluate the funds for you based on price-performance. We currently recommend HKK, TK and Audi BKK in our health insurance comparison.
If particularly low contributions and dental care are important to you, we recommend BKK Firmus. Energie BKK is particularly suitable for young families and pregnant women.
This article is available to IPPEN.MEDIA as part of a cooperation with Finanztip, Germany’s leading money guide – the original for this article “Savings package collapsed: Will your health insurance now become even more expensive?“ comes from the weekly Finanztip newsletter from November 28, 2025.
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