Health Minister Carsten Linnemann wants health insurers to warn you again before raising your additional health insurance contribution (Zusatzbeitrag). The Zusatzbeitrag notification duty was scrapped in July 2026 to cut costs.
Why Was the Zusatzbeitrag Notification Duty Removed, and Could It Return?
Until July 2026, § 175 SGB V required statutory health insurers to notify you of any Zusatzbeitrag increase. A new law dropped that duty: the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz.
The GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz cited the cost of posting letters to 75 million insured people. Consumer advocates pushed back against dropping the Zusatzbeitrag notification duty almost immediately.
Without a personal notice, many members miss a Zusatzbeitrag increase entirely. Those members may not spot the increase until checking a bank statement months later.
Linnemann wants the Zusatzbeitrag notification duty written back into law. Linnemann calls contribution rates crucial information for the insured.
Linnemann also said that health insurers should keep informing members individually. Informing members individually could mean an app, a letter, or another digital channel.
The GKV umbrella association is open to reinstating the Zusatzbeitrag notification duty if digital channels stay allowed.
If the Zusatzbeitrag notification duty is reinstated in time, health insurers would have to notify you again before 2027.
NOTE: Linnemann’s plan is a proposal, not yet law. No bill text or start date has been published.
Why Does the Zusatzbeitrag Notice Matter More Than It Sounds?
A Zusatzbeitrag increase notice is not just a courtesy. The notice triggers your special termination right (Sonderkündigungsrecht).
The Sonderkündigungsrecht lets you switch to a cheaper health insurer outside normal enrolment rules. The Sonderkündigungsrecht applies for as long as the increase is in effect.
If you miss the Zusatzbeitrag notice, you can end up stuck on a higher rate. You would not have known you had the option to switch.
Expats face a higher risk of missing a Zusatzbeitrag notice than longtime residents. German-language letters and portal notices are easy to miss.
What Should You Do Now About Your Zusatzbeitrag?
- Check your Zusatzbeitrag with your health insurer. Do not wait for a letter, because the Zusatzbeitrag notification duty is in limbo.
- Set a reminder around January. Health insurers traditionally adjust their rates in January.
- Compare health insurers periodically. Your Sonderkündigungsrecht still applies even without a formal notice.
