Pension

If you receive a statutory pension and were insured in the statutory health insurance scheme for a prescribed minimum period (pre-insurance period), you are obliged to take out health insurance for pensioners.

For pensioners who are not subject to compulsory insurance and are voluntarily insured, other income, such as rental income and investment income, is also taken into account when calculating the contributions in addition to the pension and pension payments.

The general contribution rate of 14,6 percent plus the BKK W&F’s individual supplementary contribution of 3,99 percent (since 01. Januar 2025) applies to the calculation of contributions from pensions and benefits. Other income, such as rental and capital income, is subject to the reduced contribution rate of percent plus additional contribution.

A minimum of euros and a maximum of 5.512,50 euros are always set as income for 2025.

Voluntarily insured pensioners bear the contribution alone. Upon request, the pension insurance provider pays a half subsidy towards health insurance (= 9.295 percent) from the amount of the statutory pension.

Anyone with health insurance is also a member of the BKK long-term care insurance.

The contribution rate for long-term care insurance is expected to be percent from January 1, 2025. Childless pensioners born after 1939 who have already reached the age of 23 will also pay a contribution surcharge of percent, bringing the total contribution to 4.2 percent.

Pensioners subject to compulsory insurance pay contributions from pension payments in accordance with the general health insurance contribution rate of 14,6 percent plus the BKK W&F’s individual contribution of 3,99 percent (from 01. Januar 2025). The contribution is borne solely by the insured person.

Important: the obligation to pay contributions only begins with the monthly amount exceeding one twentieth of the statutory reference value (2025: 197.75 euros)

The insured person’s share of health insurance, including the additional contribution, is deducted directly from the pension. The so-called contribution assessment ceiling applies: no contributions are levied on income above this annually adjusted limit.

The legislator has decided on financial improvements for pension recipients with the Act to Improve the Payment of Pensions for Persons with Reduced Earning Capacity (EM).

Disability pensions starting between 2001 and 2018 may therefore receive a pension supplement from July 2024. This also applies to old-age and surviving dependants’ pensions following a disability pension. If you belong to this group of people, the Pension Service of Deutsche Post AG will inform you about the amount of your supplement. The payment is made automatically (without application) and initially separately from the current pension. The supplement will only be paid together with the pension from December 2025 onwards.

Important: The pension supplement is also subject to health and long-term care insurance contributions.

If you are compulsorily insured, your contributions will be paid by the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) in the same way as your pension; you do not need to make any further arrangements. If your income exceeds the contribution assessment ceiling (2025: 5.512,50 euros per month), we will be happy to review your contribution on request.

If you generally pay your contributions yourself (e.g. as a voluntarily insured pensioner), please send us a copy of the notification from the Deutsche Post AG Pension Service so that we can calculate your contributions.

Note: If you were previously insured under family insurance, the supplement may affect your insurance relationship. In this case, please also send us a copy of the notification from the Deutsche Post AG Pension Service.