What are the income thresholds to join private health insurance in Germany?
Starting January 1, 2026, the income requirements to qualify for private health insurance are:
Employees must earn more than €77,400 per year.
Freelancers under the age of 51 must earn more than €36,000 per year.
Freelancers aged 51 or older must earn more than €51,000 per year.
If a person is employed outside of Germany, they are considered a freelancer for these thresholds.
What is the employer contribution towards private health insurance in Germany?
German employers contribute up to 50% of an employee's monthly health and nursing care insurance costs, including coverage for dependents. The maximum employer contribution is capped at €613.22 per month, which breaks down as:
Up to €508.59 per month for private health insurance.
Up to €104.63 per month for nursing care insurance.
What's changing with the income threshold and employer contribution in 2027?
Both figures are expected to increase starting January 1, 2027, though neither is finalized yet.
Income threshold: the employee threshold is projected to rise to just under €85,000 per year.
Employer contribution: the contribution caps are also expected to increase, since they're calculated from Germany's contribution assessment ceiling, which is separately projected to rise in 2027.
The official figures for both will be set by the Bundeskabinett in autumn 2026.