Health Insurance Income Threshold 2027 in Germany: €84,150
The income threshold for private health insurance rises to €84,150 in 2027. Who can switch, who stays private and what to do before 1 January.
Every autumn the German government sets the income level above which employees may leave public (statutory) health insurance and choose private health insurance. For 2027 the jump is unusually large. This guide explains the new figure, who it affects and what to check before 1 January 2027.
The income threshold (Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze, also called Versicherungspflichtgrenze) is planned to rise from €77,400 to €84,150 per year (€7,012.50 per month) on 1 January 2027. The federal cabinet approved it on 7 October 2026, but the Bundesrat has not yet approved it, so treat the figure as planned, not final. If you want to switch to private health insurance in 2027 as an employee, your regular gross pay needs to be above €84,150.
2026 vs 2027: the numbers
| Value | 2026 | 2027 (planned) |
|---|---|---|
| Income threshold (JAEG), per year | €77,400 | €84,150 |
| Income threshold (JAEG), per month | €6,450 | €7,012.50 |
| Contribution ceiling, health and care insurance, per year | €69,750 | €76,500 |
| Contribution ceiling, health and care insurance, per month | €5,812.50 | €6,375 |
| Special threshold, privately insured since before 2003 (§ 6 Abs. 7 SGB V) | €69,750 | about €72,900 |
| New special threshold, exempt and privately insured on 31 Dec 2026 (§ 6 Abs. 8 SGB V) | not applicable | about €80,550 |
The rise comes from two parts: the regular wage-based adjustment, plus a one-off extra increase of €3,600 per year (€300 per month) in the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz. The contribution ceiling is a different number: it only caps how much you pay in public contributions, and it does not decide whether you can go private.
Who is affected
1. Employees thinking of switching to private health insurance
This group is hit hardest. The bar for leaving public insurance rises by €6,750 in one year. If your regular gross pay is between €77,400 and €84,150, you may have crossed the 2026 line but not the 2027 one. See how switching works below.
2. Privately insured employees earning between €77,400 and €84,150
If you were exempt from compulsory insurance and privately insured on 31 December 2026, the planned rules give you a separate threshold of about €80,550, without the extra €3,600. The stated aim is to prevent an unwanted return to compulsory insurance. In practice:
- Regular pay above about €80,550: you can generally stay private.
- Regular pay below it: you could become compulsorily insured in public health insurance from 1 January 2027. An AOK employer bulletin reports that the legislator has expressly excluded a right to be exempted from this for 2027. A consumer site describes exemption as still possible, so sources differ. Get your case checked before year end.
- The figure of about €80,550 is not final until the Bundesrat has approved the regulation.
3. People starting a job in Germany in 2027
Your employer checks your expected regular annual gross pay when you start, and again when the threshold changes. Above €84,150 you can choose private health insurance or voluntary public insurance. Below it you join compulsory public health insurance. Our eligibility guide explains what counts as regular pay.
4. Self-employed, freelancers and civil servants
The threshold does not apply to you. You can choose private health insurance whatever you earn, although insurers set their own acceptance conditions. Read more in our guide for freelancers.
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How switching works in 2027
As an employee in compulsory public insurance, you do not leave on the day your pay passes the threshold. The rule (§ 6 Abs. 4 SGB V) works in two steps:
- Your regular annual gross pay exceeds the threshold of the current year. You stay insured until the end of that calendar year.
- Your pay also exceeds the threshold of the following year. Only then does compulsory insurance end, at 31 December.
For a switch on 1 January 2027, the second test is the €84,150 line. Passing €77,400 in 2026 alone is not enough.
Lena earns a regular €80,000, above €77,400. In 2027 her pay is expected to stay at €80,000, which is €4,150 below €84,150. She cannot leave public health insurance on 1 January 2027 and stays compulsorily insured. She could switch later if her regular pay rises above the threshold that applies then.
Jonas earns a regular €95,000, above both €77,400 and €84,150. His compulsory insurance can end on 31 December 2026, and he can choose private health insurance or voluntary public insurance from 1 January 2027. Switching is a big decision: the road back is restricted, especially from age 55, so compare before you sign. See switching from public to private.
Pay counts as regular gross pay: base salary plus contractually fixed extras such as a fixed 13th salary. Discretionary bonuses and one-offs usually do not count. If you move from part-time to full-time, or end self-employment or civil-servant status in 2027, your expected 2027 pay is what matters.
What to do now
- Check your regular annual gross pay for 2027, including fixed extras, and compare it with €84,150.
- If you are in public insurance and near the line: do not assume you can switch. Ask an adviser to test both thresholds.
- If you are already private and earn under about €84,150: ask your employer which threshold applies to you and whether you were exempt on 31 December 2026.
- If you qualify and want to switch on 1 January 2027: start comparing tariffs now. Insurers ask health questions and need time, and your public insurer has to be told that you are leaving.
- Gather your documents: payslips, employment contract, current insurance details.
- Watch for the Bundesrat decision and for any change to the final figures.
MyHealthcareBroker's independent consultants work in English and can check which threshold applies to you. Also see private health insurance cost, public vs private health insurance and the public or private quiz.
Frequently asked questions
What is the health insurance income threshold in Germany for 2027?
Why is the 2027 threshold rising so much?
I earn €80,000. Can I switch to private health insurance in 2027?
I am already privately insured and earn between €77,400 and €84,150. Do I have to go back to public insurance?
Does the threshold apply to freelancers, the self-employed and civil servants?
I am starting a job in Germany in 2027. Which threshold applies to me?
Is the 2027 threshold final?
Sources
- Bundesregierung: Beitragsbemessungsgrenzen 2027 (cabinet decision, thresholds, €300 special increase)
- Haufe: Beitragsbemessungsgrenze 2027 (special thresholds § 6 Abs. 7 and 8 SGB V)
- AOK: Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenzen 2027 (switching rule, exemption, employer checks)
- Private health insurance association: Versicherungspflichtgrenze 2027
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung: Rechengrößen 2027
- § 6 SGB V: Versicherungsfreiheit
Figures last checked on 17 October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
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