In 2016, health insurance contributions will rise

In 2016, health insurance contributions will rise again

05/01/2015

The slight relief that has resulted for millions of Germans due to the reduction in the statutory health insurance contribution since the beginning of the year, will probably not be lasting. As of next year, insured persons can expect increasing contributions for their health insurance.

Additional contributions will increase
Due to the reduction of the statutory health insurance contribution, many people in this country had financial relief at the turn of the year. But from 2016 on insured persons in Germany have to adjust again to increasing contributions for their health insurance. Like the news magazine „The mirror“ According to calculations by health economist Jürgen Wasem of the University of Düsseldorf, the additional contributions could climb from just under 0.9 to then 1.15 percent of the gross salary. In 2017, they are therefore likely to rise to 1.4 percent.

Relief only for a short time
The additional contributions which may be levied by the funds since 1 January must be borne by the employees alone. The general contribution rate, which is set at 14.6 percent, means that at present half of the employers must also participate. The relief, which has benefited some 20 million members since the turn of the year, is said to be short-lived. More than half of the 123 statutory health insurance funds have announced lower contribution rates for 2015.

Experts have long been assuming increasing contributions
That the contributions to health insurance will soon rise again, has been speculated by experts for some time. For example, the Barmer GEK had announced that it assumes that the health insurance contributions in Germany will rise significantly in the coming years. And the chairman of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), Jens Baas, said a few weeks ago that he expects that the additional contribution after 2015 will increase very quickly. For 2015, the coffers were still restrained in their additional contributions, but their financial cushions could soon be used up. (Ad)