Krankengeld

What is Krankengeld?

Krankengeld is the statutory sick pay provided by the GKV when an illness prevents you from working. It is paid only to GKV members who are gainfully employed or otherwise contributing-liable. Legal basis: §§ 44-51 SGB V.

The payment sequence for a typical employee:

• Day 1-42 (six weeks): Employer pays your full gross salary (Lohnfortzahlung under § 3 EFZG)

• Day 43 onward: Krankenkasse takes over with Krankengeld, provided the doctor continues to certify incapacity

PKV members do not receive Krankengeld, the statutory system only applies to GKV members. They need a private Krankentagegeld policy instead (see that entry).

How the amount is calculated

The formula under § 47 SGB V:

• 70 % of gross income, capped at 90 % of the net that was being earned before the illness

• Daily maximum 2026: €135.63 per day gross (70 % of 1/360 of the BBG; § 47 Abs. 6 SGB V)

That daily maximum applies regardless of how much you earn above the BBG. Earn €6,000 per month or €12,000 per month as a GKV member, your Krankengeld is capped at the same daily figure.

From the gross Krankengeld, further contributions are deducted:

• Pflegeversicherung (long-term-care insurance)

• Rentenversicherung

• Arbeitslosenversicherung

Krankenversicherung contributions are suspended during Krankengeld receipt (§ 224 SGB V). The net Krankengeld typically lands at roughly 70-75 % of your previous net salary.

The high-earner gap

For GKV members earning above the BBG (€69,750/year in 2026), the cap creates a substantial income gap:

• Example: Gross salary €6,500/month, net ~€4,200/month

• Maximum Krankengeld at net: ~€3,375/month

• Gap: roughly €825/month

The gap is larger still for employees above the JAEG (€77,400/year in 2026) who remain in GKV voluntarily. The same Krankengeld ceiling applies, but their net salary is higher, so the shortfall widens further.

This is one of the less-discussed arguments for supplementary cover. GKV members who rely on their income have a meaningful gap after the first six weeks of serious illness; a private Krankentagegeld top-up can close it.

How long does Krankengeld pay?

Up to 78 weeks per illness within a three-year block period (§ 48 Abs. 1 SGB V), including the employer's six weeks of wage continuation. After that, the statutory Krankengeld entitlement is exhausted.

If you recover and return to work, you can earn a fresh 78-week entitlement for the same illness only after:

• Six months without incapacity for work due to that illness, AND

• Six months of gainful employment

If Krankengeld runs out before recovery, the next step is typically a claim for Erwerbsminderungsrente (reduced earning capacity pension) through the Deutsche Rentenversicherung. The average EMR in 2024 was around €1,001/month, a big step down from prior income.

Krankengeld and unemployment

If you are unemployed and fall ill while receiving Arbeitslosengeld I (unemployment benefit):

• The Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) continues to pay ALG I for the first six weeks of illness

• From week 7, the Krankenkasse takes over with Krankengeld

If you fall ill before you are entitled to ALG I, the sequence depends on your insurance status at that moment.