The draft outlines a rise in the contribution assessment ceiling for the statutory pension insurance to €8,450 in 2026, up from the current €8,050 This adjustment would mean individuals with higher incomes contribute a larger portion of their earnings towards the system, while correspondingly building up greater entitlement to future benefits
Similar modifications are planned for the statutory health and long-term care insurance schemes The current contribution assessment ceiling of €5,51250 is projected to increase to €5,81250 in 2026
The so-called insurance obligation limit – the threshold above which individuals can opt for private health insurance – is also slated for adjustment This limit is proposed to rise to €6,450 for 2026, an increase from the current €6,150
These figures are adjusted according to a fixed formula linked to wage growth in the preceding year, with the Ministry of Labour stating there is “no discretionary margin” in the calculation The draft regulation cites a 516 percent increase in gross wages and salaries in Germany for 2024 as the basis for these proposed changes
