Contents (8 sections)
- The income threshold for private health insurance is €77,400 in 2026 and €84,150 in 2027 (draft: Federal Cabinet decision of 7 October 2026, Bundesrat approval pending).
- Employees already privately insured and exempt on 31 December 2026 have a lower 2027 limit of €80,550.
- In an existing job you can only leave public insurance at the end of a year in which you exceed both that year's and the next year's threshold (§ 6 (4) SGB V).
- A new job with a salary above the threshold makes you exempt from day one; in your first job in Germany you can still choose public insurance within three months.
Employees in Germany may choose private health insurance only if their regular gross annual salary exceeds the income threshold: €77,400 in 2026 and €84,150 in 2027 (Federal Cabinet decision of 7 October 2026, Bundesrat approval pending). For employees already privately insured on 31 December 2026, the 2027 limit is €80,550. Check your salary:
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As of 10 October 2026. 2027 values per Federal Cabinet decision of 7 October 2026 (Bundesrat approval pending); limit for people privately insured on 31 December 2026: €80,550 (§ 6 (8) SGB V as amended). Not considered: the special limit for pre-2003 cases and the 2028 threshold (not yet known). Which salary components count is up to you and your employer – enter regular pay only. General information, not individual advice.
Threshold checked – here is what comes next
We email you your result and the key dates around the turn of the year. Close to the threshold? A specialised expert from our partner network can clarify with you what applies in 2027.
- Your result for the 2026 and 2027 thresholds
- The deadlines: turn of the year, three-month windows, exemption
- Newcomer Health Insurance Starter Kit (PDF)
Done! Thank you! We'll email you your result. A specialised expert from our partner network will usually get in touch within 24 hours (working days).
Newcomer Health Insurance Starter Kit (PDF)Income thresholds 2026 and 2027 at a glance
The income threshold (Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze, JAEG, also called Versicherungspflichtgrenze) decides whether an employee must be in public health insurance. It is adjusted every year to wage growth; for 2027 the law adds a one-off increase of €300 a month.
| Threshold | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| General income threshold per year | €77,400 | €84,150 |
| … per month | €6,450 | €7,012.50 |
| Limit for employees privately insured on 31 Dec 2026 | – | €80,550 |
| Special limit for cases privately insured before 2003 | €69,750 | €72,900 |
| Contribution ceiling health insurance per year | €69,750 | €76,500 |
| For comparison: EU Blue Card minimum salary | €50,700 | about €53,100* |
*Own calculation: 50% of the 2027 pension insurance ceiling (draft). The official figure is published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior at the end of the year. In shortage occupations the Blue Card minimum is €45,934.20 (2026).
When exactly can you switch to private?
The threshold is not a simple “above it, you're free” rule. What matters is whether you start a new job or are already employed:
New job
If your expected regular salary in the new job is above the threshold of the current year, you are exempt from compulsory insurance from the first day. If it is your first job in Germany, you can still join public insurance voluntarily within three months of starting (§ 9 (1) no. 3 SGB V).
Existing job
If your salary rises above the threshold, compulsory insurance ends at the end of that calendar year – but only if your salary also exceeds the next year's threshold (§ 6 (4) SGB V). For a switch on 1 January 2027 you need more than €84,150.
Worked examples: the 2027 threshold step by step
| Case | Salary | Result |
|---|---|---|
| New job from November 2026, chooses private | €82,000 | Exempt from day one. On 31 Dec 2026 privately insured → 2027 limit €80,550 → stays exempt. |
| New job from November 2026, chooses private | €79,000 | Exempt in 2026, but below €80,550 → compulsorily insured from 1 January 2027; exemption possible within three months. |
| Already employed, publicly insured | €82,000 | Above €77,400, below €84,150 → no switch on 1 January 2027. |
| Already employed, publicly insured | €90,000 | Above both thresholds → compulsory insurance ends on 31 December 2026; private possible from 1 January 2027. |
| New job from 2027 | €85,000 | Above €84,150 → exempt from day one. |
The second case is the trap for late-2026 starters: choosing private for two months and then falling back into public insurance – or binding yourself to private through an exemption – is rarely a good idea. Talk to a broker before you sign.
Income threshold history 2022–2027
The threshold rises every year with wages. The jump to 2027 is unusually large because of the one-off increase of €300 a month.
| Year | Threshold per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | €64,350 | – |
| 2023 | €66,600 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | €69,300 | +4.1% |
| 2025 | €73,800 | +6.5% |
| 2026 | €77,400 | +4.9% |
| 2027 (draft) | €84,150 | +8.7% |
For your planning this means: a salary that is comfortably above the threshold today can be close to it in two or three years. If you go private with a small margin, a lower pay rise or part-time work can make you compulsorily insured again – under 55 that is a way back, from 55 usually not.
What counts as “regular” salary?
The threshold refers to your regular gross annual pay (regelmäßiges Jahresarbeitsentgelt). As a rule of thumb:
- Counts: fixed monthly salary and extras you are contractually or regularly entitled to, such as a 13th salary or holiday pay.
- Usually doesn't count: one-off bonuses without an entitlement, overtime that isn't regular, reimbursed expenses.
- Unclear cases – variable bonuses, stock options, part-year contracts: your employer's payroll and the health insurance fund decide. Ask them in writing.
Why the threshold matters more for newcomers
Many international professionals come with a salary just above the 2026 threshold. Three things are easy to miss:
- The Blue Card is not a ticket to private insurance. Its minimum salary (€50,700 in 2026) is far below the health insurance threshold – most Blue Card holders are publicly insured by law. More: health insurance for Blue Card holders.
- The 2027 jump. With €80,000 you are above the 2026 threshold but below €84,150. A new job in late 2026 can exempt you only for a few weeks.
- The three-month window. Above the threshold in your first German job, public insurance stays open for three months. After that, the door usually closes – especially for newcomers from outside the EU without prior insurance periods.
Above the threshold – and now?Being allowed to switch doesn't mean you should. Family plans, how long you stay in Germany and your age decide whether private insurance pays off. Compare both systems with the public vs private cost calculator and read the honest comparison.
Sources in German
For readers who prefer German, the threshold is explained in detail at Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze 2027 (source in German). Official values: Federal Ministry of Labour (BMAS) and the Federal Government's press release on the 2027 values.
Next steps
- Get an honest answer for your situation: 60-second decider.
- Steps and deadlines for the switch: switching from public to private.
- What your employer pays in private insurance: employer contribution.
- German terms explained: glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for private health insurance in Germany in 2027?
€84,150 gross per year (€7,012.50 a month), according to the Federal Cabinet decision of 7 October 2026; Bundesrat approval is pending. In 2026 it is €77,400. The salary has to be regular – a 13th salary or holiday pay counts, a one-off bonus without entitlement usually doesn't.
What is the threshold for private health insurance in 2026?
€77,400 a year or €6,450 a month (official value). If you start a new job in 2026 with a higher regular salary, you are exempt from compulsory public insurance from the first day.
I'm already privately insured – do I have to reach €84,150 in 2027?
No. For employees who are exempt and privately insured on 31 December 2026, the 2027 limit is €80,550 (§ 6 (8) SGB V as amended; draft value). Below that you would become compulsorily insured; an exemption may be possible within three months (§ 8 SGB V) – it binds you to private insurance.
When can I switch to private if my salary rises above the threshold?
Compulsory insurance ends at the end of the calendar year in which your regular salary exceeds the threshold – but only if it also exceeds the threshold of the following year (§ 6 (4) SGB V). With €90,000 in 2026 you could switch on 1 January 2027; with €82,000 not, because it is below €84,150.
Does the threshold apply to freelancers and the self-employed?
No. Self-employed people, freelancers and civil servants can take out private health insurance whatever they earn. For them the question is rather whether public insurance is open to them at all.
What happens if my salary falls below the threshold later?
As an employee you usually become compulsorily insured in public insurance again – under 55. From 55 the way back is usually closed if you were not publicly insured in the previous five years (§ 6 (3a) SGB V).
Sources
- Federal Government: contribution ceilings 2027 (Cabinet decision) – 7 October 2026
- BMAS: Social Insurance Calculation Values Ordinance 2027 (draft) – draft of 21 September 2026
- BGBl. 2026 I No. 228 – GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz (§ 6 (8) SGB V) – promulgated 29 July 2026
- § 6 SGB V – exemption from compulsory insurance
- § 9 SGB V – voluntary insurance (first job in Germany)
- PKV service portal: income threshold 2027 – September/October 2026
- Federal Ministry of the Interior: minimum salaries for the EU Blue Card 2026 (BAnz AT 18.12.2025 B3)
This article provides general information on health insurance in Germany (as of 10 October 2026). It does not replace individual advice. Which solution suits you depends on your personal situation, e.g. age, health, income, family and length of stay. Despite careful review we cannot guarantee completeness and accuracy; laws and tariffs change. It is not immigration advice: whether your insurance is sufficient for a visa or residence permit is decided by the German mission abroad or your immigration office. Publisher: German-PKV.de. German-PKV.de is not an insurance broker and does not provide insurance, legal or tax advice; individual advice is provided exclusively by specialised cooperation partners licensed under § 34d GewO.