Tool · 2026 rates
What would GKV actually cost you?
Pick your Krankenkasse, enter your gross income, and see the real monthly bill — your share, the employer's share, and the breakdown between Kranken- and Pflegeversicherung.
Your total monthly cost
€967.05
With Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) (2.69% Zusatzbeitrag) · Employee · Childless
Your share
€497.03
/ month
Employer share
€470.03
/ month
How that breaks down
| Component | Rate | You | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
Krankenversicherung 14.6% base + 2.69% Zusatzbeitrag | 17.29% | €389.03 | €389.03 |
Pflegeversicherung 3.6% base + 0.6% childless surcharge | 4.2% | €108.00 | €81.00 |
| Total | — | €497.03 | €470.03 |
How the numbers work
Statutory contributions look opaque at first, but the rules are public. Here's what's under the hood — so you can reproduce the figure on your own payslip.
The formula
Monthly contribution = (gross income, capped at the 2026 BBG of €5,812.50) × (14.6% statutory base rate + your Kasse's Zusatzbeitrag) for the Krankenversicherung, plus 3.6% for the Pflegeversicherung. Childless members aged 23+ pay an extra 0.6% Pflege surcharge; parents with two or more children under 25 pay 0.25 percentage points less per additional child, capped at one full point.
Employee vs. self-employed
Employees and their employer split the bill 50/50, except for the Pflege Kinderlosenzuschlag (employee-only) and the parent discount (employee-only). Self-employed members carry the full contribution themselves and are assessed on a minimum income of €1,318.33/month (§ 240 SGB V), even if actual earnings are lower.
What this estimate covers
KV (Krankenversicherung) and PV (Pflegeversicherung) only — the two components every statutory member pays. Pension, unemployment and tax deductions sit on top of this and aren't included. The figures assume the regular 14.6% rate (with Krankengeld), not the 14.0% reduced rate some self-employed members opt for.
Where the data comes from
Statutory rates are fixed by law (SGB V, SGB XI). Per-Kasse Zusatzbeiträge are published by the GKV-Spitzenverband and updated every January. We refresh this list at the start of each year. If you spot a stale rate, let us know and we'll fix it.
New to the German system? The PKV glossary explains terms like Beitragsbemessungsgrenze, Zusatzbeitrag and Pflegeversicherung in plain English.
Self-employed or above the JAEG?
Both groups can choose between GKV and PKV — self-employed at any income, employees once gross is above €77,400/year. We’ll show you what PKV would actually cost in your case. No obligation, no pressure.
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