Health insurance and pension
From this gross content, you will pay higher contributions from January
Updated on October 8th, 2025 – 11:15 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The coalition coordinates higher contribution assessment limits. This increases the payments to pension and health insurance for many employees.
With the cabinet decision, the so-called social security data regulation automatically comes into force. Approval of the Bundestag is not necessary. The regulation regulates every year to what income contributions to pension, unemployment, health and nursing care insurance must be paid.
The following values are planned for 2026:
This means that if you earn very well, you have to pay social contributions to a larger part of your salary from next year than before. More precisely: If your gross salary is over 8,050 euros a month, you are affected by higher taxes in pension and unemployment insurance. From 2026, you pay more for health and long-term care insurance above a gross salary of 5,512.50 euros a month.
One example makes it clear: earn 8,400 euros a month in 2025, you pay for 8,050 euros pension contributions. With the current contribution rate of 18.6 percent, you will pay 748.65 euros yourself this year, your employer contributes a further 748.65 euros, as employees and employers share the contribution in half. In 2026, the pension contribution would be calculated based on the full 8,400 euros. This makes 781.20 euros per month for you and your employer.
In the future, the maximum social security contributions for well -earned pension insurance will be around 1,572 euros a month (2025: 1,497 euros). In health insurance, the monthly maximum contributions are expected to increase by around 50 euros.
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The contribution ceiling is a central social security instrument. It ensures that the contributions remain adapted to general income development. While employees with very high incomes are more stressed, average earners usually benefit from stable contribution rates.
In addition to the contribution assessment limits, the so -called insurance obligation limit is also adapted. It decides from which income can switch employees from legal health insurance from legal. In 2026 it is said to be 6,450 euros a month (2025: 6,150 euros).
