Health insurance: This will soon change for those insured

New boundaries for 2027

Things are now getting tight for these insured people

The compulsory insurance limit will rise in 2027. This has consequences for those willing to change as well as for those with private insurance.

For high earners, statutory health insurance will not only be significantly more expensive in the future – switching to private health insurance will also be more difficult at the turn of the year.

Because on January 1st, not only the contribution assessment limit, but also the annual salary limit, often also called the compulsory insurance limit, will be increased. The compulsory insurance limit determines the income from which employees can switch from statutory to private health insurance.

The sharp increase results, on the one hand, from the wage development. If wages rise in Germany, the calculation variables in social insurance also rise, i.e. contribution assessment and compulsory insurance limits. There is also a special effect from the recently passed Statutory Health Insurance Contribution Rate Stabilization Act.

• GKV reform: Higher subsidies for privately insured people

In order to increase the health insurance companies’ income, the contribution assessment limit will be increased once by 300 euros per month in 2027. This means that high earners have to pay health insurance contributions on a larger portion of their income. In order to prevent a wave of switching to private health insurance, the Federal Government also the compulsory insurance limit by 300 euros per month. Accordingly, switching to private health insurance next year will be significantly more difficult.

The limit increase also has consequences for those with private insurance. Employees whose salaries are permanently below the set threshold will automatically be subject to statutory health insurance again. The only exceptions to this are employees over 55 who have had private health insurance for a long time. However, employees who wish to remain in private health insurance must submit an application for exemption from compulsory insurance.

However, switching back to the GKV can also be an opportunity. After all, many privately insured people struggle with rapidly increasing contributions, especially in old age. However, it is important to weigh this up carefully. One argument for switching back to statutory health insurance has always been the free insurance for family members. However, this will be severely restricted from 2028.

The calculation size regulation is also important for privately insured people beyond the compulsory insurance limit. It decides the maximum amount the employer contribution to health insurance can be. The higher the contribution assessment limit, the higher the maximum contribution from the employer.