The partner surcharge in long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) is planned to apply from 1 January 2028 to co-insured spouses and registered partners. This is set out in the cabinet draft of the care reform act, which the federal cabinet approved on 30 September 2026. It is a separate contribution surcharge in long-term care insurance, not the surcharge in statutory health insurance, and the two should not be confused.
Short answer: According to the cabinet draft, a contribution surcharge of 0.52 percent is to be levied from 1 January 2028 for the co-insurance of spouses or registered partners. The Federal Ministry of Health names this rate in its announcement of 30 September 2026. It is a planned rule, not yet an adopted law. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points in brief
- The partner surcharge in long-term care insurance is planned in the cabinet draft from 1 January 2028.
- The stated rate is 0.52 percent for the co-insurance of a spouse or registered partner.
- The draft is not yet a law. The Bundestag and the Bundesrat have not decided.
- The surcharge in statutory health insurance is a different rule that follows a different procedure.
- The announcement does not describe in detail how the contribution basis is calculated.
What is the partner surcharge in long-term care insurance?
A partner surcharge is a contribution surcharge for insured people who co-insure a spouse or registered partner. According to the ministry, this surcharge is to be levied from 1 January 2028. It does not concern the care insurer itself, but the contribution of the insured person who includes a relative in long-term care insurance.
The term sounds similar to the surcharge in health insurance, but it is a separate building block. Anyone who mixes up the two rules quickly calculates with wrong amounts.
The two surcharges compared
For planning, what matters is which insurance is meant. The table separates the long-term care contribution from the health insurance surcharge by status and source.
| Area | Rule | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term care insurance | Partner surcharge of 0.52 percent from 01.01.2028 under the cabinet draft | Planned, cabinet draft 30.09.2026 |
| Health insurance | Contribution surcharge of 2.5 percent for co-insured spouses from 2028, with exceptions | Procedure stated as completed by the Federal Ministry of Health, date of entry into force not stated |
Health insurance has its own rule with its own procedure. You can find the explanation in our guide to family insurance for spouses from 2028.
Worked example with the rate of 0.52 percent
Assumption: the contributory gross income of the insured person is 2,000 euros a month, and the surcharge is applied to this income. The announcement does not describe the contribution basis, so this assumption only shows the calculation method.
| Item | Calculation | Amount per month |
|---|---|---|
| Partner surcharge at 2,000 euros | 2,000 euros x 0.52 percent | 10.40 euros |
| Partner surcharge at 3,000 euros | 3,000 euros x 0.52 percent | 15.60 euros |
The amounts only show how the rate works. With a different contribution basis the result differs. For that reason, read the rule in the final law once it is passed.
Who could be affected?
The surcharge concerns insured people who co-insure a spouse or registered partner in long-term care insurance. For young people starting work with a partner, this is a question that can change with marriage, moving in together or a change of job. Anyone planning now should keep this date in view, and it helps to note it in the calendar.
According to the announcement, people who are not married and do not co-insure a registered partner are not affected by the surcharge in this form. The final text should still be checked, because exceptions may exist that the announcement does not describe.
Frequently asked questions
Does the partner surcharge apply already today?
No. According to the cabinet draft it is to apply from 1 January 2028. Until then the current law applies, and the announcement names no earlier application.
Has the surcharge been adopted?
No. The cabinet draft is a proposal of the federal government. The Bundestag and the Bundesrat must agree before the law applies. The procedure is still open.
Is the partner surcharge the same as family insurance?
No. Family insurance determines who is co-insured in health insurance without an own contribution. The partner surcharge in long-term care insurance is a contribution surcharge in another branch. Both rules can apply together but must be checked separately.
How do I find out what my contribution will be?
The binding information comes from your health insurer or the care insurer once the law is in force. On the payslip, long-term care contributions appear as a separate item.
How does this relate to the care contribution 2027?
The partner surcharge is a rule for 2028, while the care contribution 2027 concerns the childless surcharge and the general rate. Both belong to the care reform but take effect at different times. Our guide to the care contribution 2027 covers the contribution side for 2027.
Why this matters for your financial planning
A surcharge of 0.52 percent looks small at first sight. It adds up over the years, and at higher incomes the amount grows accordingly. It is therefore worth including it in your monthly planning as a fixed item once the rule is binding.
Changes in marital status and in income often happen quickly in the first working years. Looking at the contribution statement a year before the reference date helps you judge the effect realistically. It also helps to compare the statements of the health insurer and the care insurer, because each shows a different part of the contribution.
What to do now
- Note the date of 1 January 2028 and check whether you co-insure a partner.
- Follow the legislative process before you plan with the rate of 0.52 percent.
- Ask your care insurer how the surcharge is calculated in your case once the law is in force.
- Keep the two surcharges apart, because health insurance and long-term care insurance are separate rules.
Related guides
- Care reform 2027: What is settled and what is still in progress
- Care contribution 2027: What employees and employers pay
- Pflegegeld 2027: What is planned and what is still open
- Family insurance for spouses from 2028: what the contribution costs
Sources: Federal Ministry of Health, press release on the cabinet decision, 30 September 2026 (in German); Federal Ministry of Health, FAQ on the statutory health insurance contribution rate law (in German); Federal Government, care reform act, 2026 (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
