Good news for insured persons: BKK WIRTSCHAFT & FINANZEN (BKK W&F) will keep its contribution rate stable despite the currently suspended savings package. This was decided by the administrative board at its meeting on December 4th.
“Our financial situation allows us to leave the supplementary contribution of 3.99% unchanged as of January 1, 2026,” explained Board Member Maribel Soto Sobrino-Bahri after yesterday’s meeting of the Administrative Board. “The proven range of benefits and services will also remain in place and will be further expanded.” For example, from 2026, even more health-promoting measures in the bonus program will be rewarded with 20 euros each. The sports medical examination, previously available every two years, will now be possible annually, and the reimbursement amount has also been increased again to 250 euros (subject to approval by the Federal Office for Social Security).
Soto Sobrino-Bahri emphasized that BKK WIRTSCHAFT & FINANZEN is expected to have fully replenished its legally required minimum reserves by the turn of the year. “After a challenging year 2024 with unexpectedly high repayments to the Health Fund, this is also absolutely necessary. This will enable us to face the continuously growing challenges of statutory health insurance with renewed strength in 2026.”
At the same time, the Board Member expects that other health insurance funds will have to increase their contributions. “Those who, like us, can remain stable, inform their members early. However, in many places, contribution increases will be unavoidable to bring individually varying reserves to the legal minimum. The average additional contribution of 2.9% set by the Federal Ministry of Health fundamentally disregards this central component.”
In addition, at the end of November, the Bundesrat abruptly stopped the austerity package approved by the Cabinet and the Bundestag to stabilize contributions for 2026. It envisages total savings of 2 billion Euros, of which 1.8 billion are in the hospital sector and 200 million with health insurance funds.
The law will now be deliberated in the Mediation Committee – presumably on December 19, which is well after the deadline for submitting budget plans to the responsible supervisory authorities.
“Should no compromise be reached even on this small savings package, a new wave of contribution increases threatens as early as 2026,” warns Soto Sobrino-Bahri.