Zusatzbeitrag is an extra payment that your statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenkasse (GKV)) charges on top of the regular insurance contribution.
You pay the Zusatzbeitrag (additional contribution) to your public health insurer when the fund’s costs exceed the standard rate (14.6% as of 2025).
The additional contribution varies between public health insurance companies. You can save money by switching to an insurer with a lower Zusatzbeitrag (additional contribution).
List of public health insurance companies in Germany and their additional contributions ->
The public health insurance companies set the additional contribution and revise it yearly. The average additional contribution is 2.9% (as of 2026).
Example: You compare two health insurance companies. One charges 3.6% Zusatzbeitrag, and the other charges only 2.4%. You can choose the cheaper one to save money.
NOTE: The services that the public health insurance companies offer are regulated by law. Thus, 95% of the services of all statutory insurers is the same.
Check how much you can save by switching to a cheaper public health insurer ->