The care contribution for 2027 (Pflegebeitrag) depends mainly on whether you have children and on your gross income. The general contribution rate for long-term care insurance has been 3.6 percent since 1 January 2025. Members without children pay a surcharge on top, and the cabinet draft of the care reform would raise that surcharge from 2027.
Short answer: The cabinet draft of 30 September 2026 provides that the childless surcharge rises by 0.3 points to 0.9 percent from 1 January 2027. The ministry’s announcement does not name a change to the general rate of 3.6 percent. Employees and employers share the general contribution. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points in brief
- The general contribution rate for long-term care insurance is 3.6 percent and has applied since 1 January 2025.
- For people without children, the cabinet draft provides a surcharge of 0.9 percentage points from 1 January 2027. The current surcharge is 0.6 points.
- The draft is not yet an adopted law. The Bundestag and the Bundesrat have not decided. It is Bundesrat Drucksache 587/26 of 9 October 2026, and the first reading in the Bundestag is scheduled for 5 November 2026.
- The contribution assessment ceiling (Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) for 2027 appears in a draft regulation of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
- For your own contribution, the payslip counts, not a percentage taken on its own.
How is the care contribution built up?
The care contribution is calculated from contributory income, up to the contribution assessment ceiling. Employees and employers generally share the general rate equally. The childless surcharge is a separate add-on that applies, according to the ministry, to members without children who are older than 23.
The Federal Ministry of Health explains the childless surcharge on its page on the term. There the surcharge is stated as 0.6 contribution rate points, so that the total for childless members comes to 4.2 percent. According to the ministry’s status as of 14 September 2026, these are the values in force.
| Group | Rate today | From 1 January 2027 according to the draft |
|---|---|---|
| Members with children | 3.6 percent | 3.6 percent (draft names no change) |
| Childless members from age 23 | 4.2 percent (3.6 plus 0.6) | 4.5 percent (3.6 plus 0.9) |
| Employee share for childless members | 2.4 percent (1.8 plus 0.6) | 2.7 percent (1.8 plus 0.9) |
The table shows the rates as percentages. The split between employees and employers follows the logic of the general rate. Whether the surcharge is borne entirely by the insured person should be checked against the law in its final form.
Worked example for people starting their careers
Assumption: a person starting work has no children, earns a gross salary of 2,000 euros a month and is below the contribution assessment ceiling. The employee share of the general rate is 1.8 percent, and the employer share is also 1.8 percent. In the example, we assign the surcharge entirely to the employee.
| Item | Calculation | Amount per month |
|---|---|---|
| Employee share today | 2,000 euros x 1.8 percent | 36.00 euros |
| Childless surcharge today | 2,000 euros x 0.6 percent | 12.00 euros |
| Employee share with surcharge in 2027 (draft) | 2,000 euros x 2.7 percent | 54.00 euros |
| Employer share | 2,000 euros x 1.8 percent | 36.00 euros |
In the example, the employee contribution therefore rises by 6.00 euros a month if the draft becomes law unchanged. These figures are not a forecast for your income. They only show how the percentage points work, and your actual payslip may differ.
The example can easily be transferred to other incomes. You multiply your gross salary by the share in percent and divide the result by 100. At a higher income the amount rises accordingly up to the contribution assessment ceiling, and above it no further care contribution is due.
What applies to the contribution assessment ceiling in 2027?
The contribution assessment ceiling sets the income up to which contributions are calculated. For 2027 the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has published a draft regulation that names 6,375 euros a month for the care insurance. This is a draft, not an adopted regulation. If you earn slightly above this limit, wait for the final regulation.
The ministry’s press release on the cabinet decision speaks of an increase of 300 euros a month for the contribution assessment ceiling, without repeating the draft figures. Both statements should be read as the position in autumn 2026.
What does this mean for students and working students?
The rules for students and working students differ in part from the general rules. Exceptions from the surcharge, for example for members up to the age of 23, are described by the Federal Ministry of Health on its page on the childless surcharge. For the rest, check your individual situation with your health insurer or the care insurer, because the requirements depend on your circumstances.
For working students, contributions depend on the number of hours and on the status. If you work alongside your studies, ask your employer to confirm your insurance status before you adopt figures from the draft.
How to find the contribution on your payslip
On the payslip, the care insurance contribution appears as a separate item. It shows which rate was applied and which share falls on you. A surcharge for people without children is usually shown separately when it applies. If it is not, a short question to the payroll department is worthwhile.
For planning, it helps to put the last three payslips side by side. This shows whether the contribution has already changed and lets you compare the development with the figures in the legislative process. It takes around half an hour and prevents you from calculating with wrong numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Will I pay more in 2027 if I have no children?
According to the cabinet draft, the surcharge for people without children rises by 0.3 points to 0.9 points from 1 January 2027. The earlier draft bill of 5 June 2026 still named 0.7 points, a figure that has been superseded. Whether this becomes law depends on the legislative process.
Does the general contribution rate change?
The ministry’s announcement names no change to the general rate. The rate that applies on the day of the payroll calculation is the one that counts.
Who pays the employer share?
The employer share of the general rate appears on the payslip. Ask the payroll department if you cannot follow the split.
Where can I find the current limit?
The binding values are set out in the social insurance reference values, which are fixed each year. The draft for 2027 has to be read as a draft and not as a fixed value.
What to do now
- Check your payslip and note the care insurance share.
- Find out whether the surcharge applies to you and have your date of birth ready.
- Follow the legislative process on the care reform before you adopt figures from drafts.
- Recalculate with the amount from the adopted version as soon as it is available.
Related guides
- Care reform 2027: What is settled and what is still in progress
- Pflegegeld 2027: What is planned and what is still open
- Care courses for relatives: free training for carers
- Care levels 1 to 5: which benefits belong to which level
Sources: Federal Ministry of Health, press release on the cabinet decision, 30 September 2026 (in German); Bundesrat, Drucksache 587/26, government bill (9 October 2026, in German); Federal Ministry of Health, term childless surcharge, status 14 September 2026 (in German); Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, social insurance reference values 2027, draft (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
