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GKV or PKV: German Health Insurance Contribution Calculator 2026
Calculate your public health insurance contribution (GKV + long-term care) and check whether you earn enough to switch to private insurance (PKV) — using the official 2026 figures.
Your annual income is above the Versicherungspflichtgrenze — you are entitled to switch to private insurance (PKV).
Your annual income is below €77.400 (Versicherungspflichtgrenze) — public insurance (GKV) is mandatory for employees. You can still save by switching to a fund with a lower Zusatzbeitrag.
Your GKV contribution (monthly)
- Contribution assessment base
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- Health insurance (GKV) (—)
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- Long-term care insurance (Pflege) (—)
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- You pay per month
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- Employer pays on top
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As a self-employed person you pay the full contribution yourself (a minimum contribution applies even at low income).
PKV: what to consider before switching
- ▪ For young, healthy high earners PKV is often cheaper today — but premiums rise with age, not with income.
- ▪ GKV covers your family for free (Familienversicherung); in PKV every family member pays separately.
- ▪ Returning to GKV is difficult, and after age 55 practically impossible.
- ▪ Pre-existing conditions raise PKV premiums or lead to rejection — the final rate is set only after a health check.
Calculated with the official 2026 figures (general GKV rate 14.6% + Zusatzbeitrag, care insurance 3.6%, contribution ceiling). This is a simplified estimate, not insurance or financial advice: optional tariffs, the Saxony care-insurance split and individual PKV factors are not modelled. PKV rates are binding only after a health assessment.
✓ Data verified on: 16 July 2026
All rates and thresholds follow the official figures published by the authorities:
PKV with English-speaking support — check your rate
Digital insurers popular with expats: get a quote online in minutes.
Staying in GKV? Compare the funds
The Zusatzbeitrag varies by 1–2 percentage points — at a high salary that is hundreds of euros per year:
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🏥 Full guide: choosing health insurance in Germany →Frequently asked questions
Versicherungspflichtgrenze vs. Beitragsbemessungsgrenze — what is the difference?
The Versicherungspflichtgrenze (€77.400/year in 2026) decides whether an employee may switch to PKV. The Beitragsbemessungsgrenze (€69.750/year) caps the contribution: income above it is contribution-free.
I earn above the threshold — do I have to switch to PKV?
No. Switching is a right, not an obligation. You can stay voluntarily insured in GKV — for families and people over ~40 this is often the better long-term choice.
Is PKV really cheaper than GKV?
Often yes in the short term — especially for young, healthy high earners, since PKV premiums depend on age and health, not income. But PKV premiums rise significantly with age. Model the decision over decades, not the first year.
Can I go back from PKV to GKV?
Only with difficulty. You would need to become subject to mandatory insurance again (e.g. salary drops below the threshold). After age 55 returning is practically impossible — the biggest irreversible risk of choosing PKV.
What is the Zusatzbeitrag and why do I pay more than a colleague?
Each fund adds its own supplemental rate on top of the general 14.6% (2026 average: 2.9%). The spread is 1–2 percentage points — several hundred euros a year at the ceiling. You can switch funds after 12 months of membership.
I am self-employed — what is my minimum contribution?
Self-employed people are voluntarily insured and pay the full contribution themselves. Even at low income a minimum assessment base applies — in practice roughly €250–350 per month including care insurance. Freelancers with consistently high income often choose PKV.
Why do childless members pay more?
Long-term care insurance adds a 0.6% surcharge for childless members from age 23. Parents get discounts instead: 0.25 percentage points per child for the 2nd to 5th child under age 25.