German health insurance comparison 2026: surcharge and net pay
| Health insurer | Surcharge | Net per year |
|---|---|---|
| BKK firmus | 2.18% | +€120 |
| BKK Public | 2.50% | +€67 |
| TUI BKK | 2.50% | +€67 |
| Handelskrankenkasse (hkk) | 2.59% | +€51 |
| Audi BKK | 2.60% | +€50 |
| Techniker Krankenkasse | 2.69% | +€35 |
| WMF BKK | 2.85% | +€8 |
| HEK, Hanseatische Krankenkasse | 2.89% | +€1 |
| SKD BKK | 2.98% | -€13 |
| AOK NordWest, Die Gesundheitskasse | 2.99% | -€15 |
- You and your employer each pay half of the surcharge, only up to the contribution ceiling of €5,812.50 a month. Net pay uses the official 2026 wage tax, childless from age 23 if no children are entered.
- Without your insurer the calculator compares against the official average of 2.9%; the average actually charged was 3.13% (Federal Ministry of Health, June 2026), so your saving may be higher.
- Company insurers (BKK) open only to staff of their sponsoring company are not listed.
- Insurers also differ in extra benefits and service; the contribution is only one criterion.
The cheapest insurers open nationwide
| Health insurer | Surcharge |
|---|---|
| TUI BKK | 2.50% |
| Handelskrankenkasse (hkk) | 2.59% |
| Audi BKK | 2.60% |
| Techniker Krankenkasse | 2.69% |
| WMF BKK | 2.85% |
| HEK, Hanseatische Krankenkasse | 2.89% |
| BKK Linde | 2.99% |
| DAK-Gesundheit | 3.20% |
| Debeka BKK | 3.25% |
| BARMER | 3.29% |
In total 91 insurers charge a surcharge: 34 are open nationwide, 37 only in certain states and 20 only to staff of their sponsoring company. You can join a regional insurer such as an AOK if you live or work in its state. The calculator above lists every insurer open in your state.
What switching really saves
The general rate of 14.6% is the same at every insurer; only the surcharge differs. Employees and employers each pay half of both. One percentage point less surcharge therefore saves you half a percentage point of your gross, at most up to the contribution ceiling of €5,812.50 a month. Because health contributions slightly reduce wage tax, the net gain is a little smaller than the contribution saving; the calculator accounts for this with the official wage tax.
Switching: lock-in and special right to switch
You are tied to your insurer for at least 12 months. After that you can switch: you apply to the new insurer, it informs the old one electronically, and you do not need to cancel separately. Membership ends at the end of the second calendar month after your application.
If your insurer raises its surcharge, you can switch even within the 12 months, up to the end of the month in which the higher rate first applies. Example: if your insurer raises its rate on 1 January 2027, you can switch by 31 January 2027, and the old membership ends at the end of March 2027. Since 30 July 2026 insurers no longer have to send members a separate letter about this right, so check yourself whether your insurer is raising its rate.
Surcharge 2027
The official average surcharge for 2026 is 2.9%. The Federal Ministry of Health announces the 2027 value by 1 November 2026, and insurers usually set their 2027 rates in December. This page will be updated then.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to tell my employer?
The new insurer reports the switch; tell your employer the new insurer so contributions are paid there.
Does this apply to students, pensioners and the self-employed?
They also pay their insurer's surcharge. Students and voluntarily insured self-employed people pay it alone; for pensioners the pension fund pays half, and a change only applies from the second following month.
What is my total take-home pay?
Use the salary calculator, where you can enter your insurer's surcharge.
Sources: GKV-Spitzenverband overview of surcharges under Section 242 (5) SGB V (as of 8 October 2026; names shown with a comma instead of a hyphen), Sections 175, 242, 242a and 249 SGB V, GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz (BGBl. 2026 I No. 228), SV-Rechengrößenverordnung 2026, BMF program 2026. Updated 2026-11-04.