Insured spouses in Familienversicherung will have to pay more in the future
Under the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz, a new contribution surcharge (Beitragszuschlag) for spouses and registered partners covered through the German Familienversicherung will be introduced from 1 january 2028.
In the future a surcharge of 2.5 percentage points will be levied on the member’s contributable income if a spouse or registered partner is insured free of charge through the statutory health insurance scheme (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung). Children covered through the Familienversicherung will continue to be insured free of charge.
With this reform, the legislator aims to stabilize the financing of the statutory health insurance system in the long term and generate additional revenue for the health insurance funds (Krankenkassen).
Who is affected by the new regulation?
The surcharge applies exclusively to spouses and registered partners covered through the Familienversicherung. It is irrelevant whether the insured partner performs minor employment or whether contributions are already being paid through am Minijob. The decisive factor is slolely the existence of a Familienversicherung.
As a general rule, the member must pay the surcharge themselves. No employer contribution is envisaged. Exceptions apply only to certain groups, such as apprecentices with low earnings and participants in voluntary service programmes.
Extensive exceptions provided
The legislator has introduced several exemptions to protect families, informal caregivers and particularly vulnerable persons.
No Beitragszuschlag will be charged for:
- families with children under the age of twelve living in the same household.
- Families with children with disabilities who are unable to support themselves financially.
- Persons providing home care for relatives with at least Pflegegrad 2.
- Persons taking caregiving leave (Pflegezeit).
- Spouses or registered partners covered through the Familienversicherung who have reached the Regelaltersgrenze.
- Persons with Pflegegrad 3 to 5.
- Recipients of a full disability pension (volle Erwerbsminderungsrente).
- Persons with a recognized degree of disability or reduced earning capacity of at least 60.
- Recipients of Grundsicherung within a Bedarfsgemeinschaft.
Calculation of the surcharge
The contribution surcharge is calculated for full calendar months only. Changes in personal circumstances during a month generally take effect from the following month. If the Familienversicherung begins or ends during a month, the surcharge will likewise only start in the following month or end at the close of the previous month.
Also relevant for cross-border workers
The new regulation may also be relevant for cross-border workers. In particular, it may affect individuals whose spouse or registered partner is currently covered under the German Familienversicherung. In such cases, a contribution surcharge (Beitragszuschlag) may become payable from 1 January 2028. Whether the surcharge will actually be charged depends on the individual’s circumstances and any applicable exemptions.
Conclusion
With the introduction of the contribution surcharge for spouses and registered partners covered through the Familienversicherung, the previously completely free family insurance scheme will come to an end for many insured persons from 2028 onwards.
Children will continue to be covered free of charge, while numerous social exemptions protect specific groups. Nevertheless, many households will have to prepare for additional contribution costs in the future.
More information
The German Federal Ministry of Health (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit – BMG) has published further information and a FAQ section on the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz on its website.