Short answer: The average additional contribution for 2027 is a calculated figure, not a price that every insured person pays. The Schätzerkreis, the official estimating panel, arrived in October 2026 at 2.9 percent, unchanged from 2026. Each health insurer sets its own additional contribution, which can differ from the average. Last updated: November 2026.
The average additional contribution for 2027 is often read as a price that all insured persons pay. That is not the case. The figure is a mean across all statutory health insurers and serves as a point of comparison. This guide explains how the figure comes about, why your insurer can deviate from it and what this means for studies and entering the job market.
The essentials in brief
- The average is an estimate, not an amount that everyone pays.
- The Schätzerkreis arrived at 2.9 percent for 2027 in October 2026.
- Without the contribution rate stabilisation act, the ministry expected 3.8 percent according to its own FAQ.
- Your insurer’s actual rate is fixed only with its official determination.
- For students the insurer’s additional contribution applies in full, without any reduction.
What does the term average additional contribution mean?
The average additional contribution is a mean across all statutory health insurers. It is calculated every year and serves as a calculation variable for the finances of the entire health insurance system. The rate you pay is set by your insurer alone. The average therefore describes the system, not your contribution notice.
The official determination is made by the Federal Ministry of Health and published in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger). The published status there is decisive, not a report in the press.
How is the value of 2.9 percent arrived at?
The Schätzerkreis calculates the expected expenditure and income of the health insurers for the following year. This calculation yields the rate that insurers must charge on average to cover their spending. In October 2026 the calculation for 2027 produced a calculated rate of 2.9 percent, the same value as for 2026.
Without the contribution rate stabilisation act the value would have been higher. The ministry’s FAQ assumes 3.8 percent without the act. This difference is a statement by the ministry, not an independent calculation, so read it as the government’s assessment. Background on the act is in our guide GKV reform 2026 (in German).
Why does your insurer deviate from the average?
Each health insurer is financed by its own income and expenditure. An additional contribution above the average shows that the insurer does not cover its costs with its income, but it says little about benefits. A low rate does not automatically mean a better offer. What counts is the rate printed on your contribution notice.
The table below uses the assessment base for students of 855 euros per month. The rates are assumptions, so that you can see the order of magnitude.
| Assumption: additional contribution of your insurer | Additional contribution per month | Difference from the average (2.9 percent) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 percent | 21.38 euros | minus 3.42 euros |
| 2.9 percent | 24.80 euros | 0 euros |
| 3.3 percent | 28.22 euros | plus 3.42 euros |
These figures refer only to the additional contribution, not to the general contribution rate of 10.22 percent for students. That rate applies equally to all insurers.
What counts for students in concrete terms?
For students with compulsory insurance, a fixed assessment base of 855 euros per month forms the basis, status 2026. The insurer’s additional contribution is applied in full. The additional contribution is therefore the only component that differs between insurers. A comparison makes most sense for this rate. Current figures per insurer are summarised in our guide additional contributions 2026 of all health insurers for students (in German).
Is the 2027 value already final?
No. The value from October 2026 is a forecast. The additional contribution of your insurer becomes binding only with its determination on the basis of the official specifications. If the insurer raises the rate, a special right to terminate applies until the end of the month from which the increase takes effect. Details are in our guide on the special right of termination for additional contributions (in German).
How to read your contribution notice
Your contribution notice usually states the additional contribution as a percentage and the resulting euro amount. Check whether the rate matches the determination of your insurer and whether the assessment base fits your situation. For students this is the fixed base, for other insured persons the actual income.
If something seems wrong, first contact your insurer in writing. A written enquiry makes the process traceable and helps if you later want to raise objections. Keep copies of every notice and reply, because they document the rate that applied in a given month.
Frequently asked questions
Do I automatically pay the average?
No. You pay the additional contribution of your health insurer. The average serves only as a point of comparison, to judge whether your insurer’s rate is rather high or rather low.
What happens if my insurer raises its rate?
If the additional contribution rises, you have a special right of termination. The deadline follows from the act and starts with the month from which the higher rate applies. Read your insurer’s notice carefully.
Is a low rate always better?
A low additional contribution initially shows only that the insurer manages with its income. It says little about benefits, service and optional tariffs. Anyone who wants to switch insurer therefore compares benefits and conditions together with the rate.
Where do I find my insurer’s rate?
Your health insurer publishes its rate on its website and in the contribution notice. The official determination of the average rate is documented by the Federal Ministry of Health in the Federal Gazette.
What to do now
- Note the additional contribution of your current insurer from your latest contribution notice.
- Once the official determination is published, compare it with the average figure.
- Check benefits, service and optional tariffs before you switch.
- Clarify the deadlines for changing insurer before you cancel. For a personal assessment, Academycon is available.
Related guides
- Krankenkasse 2027: What changes for insured persons and students
- GKV reform 2026: What the act regulates
- Additional contribution 2027: What students can do at the turn of the year (in German)
- Contribution assessment ceiling 2027
- Additional contributions 2026 of all health insurers (in German)
Sources: Federal Social Insurance Office: Schätzerkreis estimate, October 2026, Federal Ministry of Health: FAQ on the GKV contribution rate stabilisation act, GKV umbrella association: fact sheet on calculation variables, status 1 January 2026
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
