GKV Reform Law Raises Contributions and Slashes Dental Coverage from 2027
Germany's largest statutory health insurance reform in over a decade kicks in from January 2027, hiking out-of-pocket costs by 50% and cutting dental prosthetic subsidies by 10 percentage points. High earners face sharply higher thresholds and private insurance becomes less accessible.
Germany's health insurance system is undergoing its biggest shake-up since 2014. The GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz (GKV-BStabG), adopted by cabinet in April 2026 and passed by parliament in July, aims to close a projected funding gap of €15 billion in 2027 rising to €40 billion by 2030.
What Changes on January 1, 2027
For everyone in statutory health insurance (GKV):
- Patient co-payments increase by 50%
- Dental prosthetic subsidies drop by 10 percentage points — those needing dentures or bridges should lock in supplementary dental insurance now
- Homeopathy removed from covered benefits
- Skin-cancer screening shifts to risk-based (no longer universal)
For high earners:
- The compulsory insurance threshold (JAEG) jumps to approximately €84,800—an extraordinary €300/month hike on top of regular annual increases
- The income ceiling for contributions (BBG) rises to €84,800, meaning more of your salary becomes subject to contributions
- Around 100,000 additional people are projected to switch to private insurance (PKV), putting pressure on the PKV market
- Married couples with the youngest child aged 7+ face a new 2.5% spouse contribution to family insurance starting in 2028 (around €161/month at income ceiling)
Expats earning above €77,400 (2026 threshold) should immediately review their PKV eligibility and consider locking in current rates before 2027 thresholds apply. If you need major dental work, consult your dentist and insurer about supplementary coverage before 2027 kicks in.
Sources
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