(de-news.net) – The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) has reported that supplemental contribution rates within Germany’s statutory health insurance system increased again at the beginning of the year, based on its latest calculations. Specifically, the average member-weighted supplemental rate rose by 0.19 percentage points, moving from 2.94 to 3.13 percent. This supplemental charge is set individually by each sickness fund and is applied on top of the general contribution rate, which remains fixed at 14.6 percent of gross income. That core rate continues to be financed on an equal basis by employers and employees, underscoring the dual funding structure of the statutory system.

GKV leadership characterized the latest increase as significant and framed it as a warning signal for lawmakers and other actors responsible for the governance and long-term stability of the health care system. In this context, the association called for 2026 to be treated as a decisive year for reform, arguing that structural adjustments can no longer be postponed. Priority areas identified included reducing persistent waiting times for specialist appointments and containing the pronounced growth in hospital expenditures and pharmaceutical prices.

While acknowledging earlier government commitments to keep contribution levels stable, the GKV stressed that financial sustainability could only be achieved through shared responsibility. According to this assessment, coordinated and sustained action by public authorities, health care providers, insurers, and the pharmaceutical industry is essential to secure high-quality, affordable care for the approximately 75 million individuals insured under the statutory health system.