Anyone treated in hospital in 2027 pays a copayment (Zuzahlung) per calendar day under the statutory rules. The GKV contribution stabilisation act (Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz) is meant to raise this amount. This guide shows what is documented in the published text of the act and in the figures of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), how the copayment works in practice and where the annual cap (Belastungsgrenze) protects you.
Short answer: According to the Federal Ministry of Health, copayments rise by 50 percent under the GKV contribution stabilisation act. The published text of the act sets 15 euros per calendar day for inpatient treatment. Whether this amount already applies to your stay depends on the transitional rule of the act. The annual cap remains the upper limit for the year (Last updated: November 2026).
The most important points
- The act was promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt) on 29 July 2026, according to the published text.
- The published text sets 15 euros per calendar day for copayments on inpatient treatment.
- The number of days charged and the transitional rule are set out in the statute and should be checked there.
- The annual cap of two percent of gross income for living expenses still applies under § 62 SGB V.
- Copayments over the whole calendar year are added together for the cap.
What changes and what is documented
| Feature | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Copayment per calendar day for inpatient treatment | 15 euros, according to the published text (issue of 29 July 2026) | Published text, secondary reproduction |
| Change in copayments overall | Plus 50 percent, according to the BMG | BMG FAQ, status November 2026 |
| Annual cap | 2 percent, for chronically ill people 1 percent | § 62 SGB V (in German) |
| Number of days and transitional rule | Check the statute text | Statute |
The figure for the daily amount comes from a reproduction of the act and not from the Federal Law Gazette itself. Before making a financial decision, check the amount in the official gazette.
How the hospital copayment works
The copayment is a personal contribution. Your health insurer continues to cover the treatment, and you pay the daily amount on top. It is due for each calendar day on which you are treated as an inpatient. The statute sets out how the day of admission and the day of discharge are counted. This counting determines the amount, so it is worth asking before admission how the hospital bills.
The hospital copayment is part of the copayments of one calendar year. It is therefore not viewed in isolation but added to all copayments for medicines, medical aids and other services you pay in the same year. That total decides whether the cap is reached.
The annual cap remains the protection
Under § 62 para. 1 SGB V, copayments in a calendar year need only be paid up to the cap. The cap is two percent of annual gross income for living expenses, or one percent for chronically ill people in continuous treatment for the same serious illness. Once the cap is reached, the insurer issues a certificate of exemption from copayments. A higher hospital copayment therefore does not move the cap. It only brings the cap into play sooner. The cap applies equally to all statutory insurers, regardless of how many treatments fall in the year.
Worked example with the cap (assumption)
The following calculation assumes gross income of 12,000 euros per year and the daily amount of 15 euros from the published text. Whether this amount applies to your stay must be checked.
| Item | Amount (assumption) |
|---|---|
| Gross income for living expenses in the year | 12,000 euros |
| Cap (2 percent) | 240 euros |
| Copayments already paid in the year | 200 euros |
| Hospital stay, 6 days × 15 euros | 90 euros |
| Copayments without the cap in total | 290 euros |
| Copayments with the cap in total | 240 euros |
| Still to pay in the hospital case | 40 euros |
Without the cap you would have paid 290 euros, with the cap it is at most 240 euros. The difference of 50 euros falls away. This shows why the cap works even with higher daily amounts: it limits the total sum, not the single stay.
Who should look closely at hospital costs
For students with low income the cap has a particularly strong effect, because it is based on gross income. Anyone who earns little reaches the cap earlier and pays less overall. A longer hospital stay can still raise the total noticeably before the cap applies.
Households with several people should also calculate carefully. Under § 62 para. 2 SGB V, copayments and income of relatives living in the same household are added together where the rule applies. This can shift the cap for everyone involved. Check which persons must be stated to your insurer.
- Students with a part-time job: record income and copayments early in the year.
- Families in one household: look at the copayments of all members together.
- Chronically ill people in continuous treatment: clarify the one percent cap with the insurer early.
When the new daily amount applies
The transitional rule of the act is decisive. It states from which date the new amounts apply to treatments. If you plan a treatment, check the date there or with your insurer before the admission is fixed. Some provisions of the act have their own deadlines, so not all rules take effect at the same time.
What you can do now
- Note all copayments of the year so that you keep the cap in view.
- Ask the hospital how it counts the days and which amount it charges.
- Check the bill for days and amounts before you pay it.
- Contact your health insurer if you need a certificate of exemption from copayments.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay the copayment if the insurer covers the treatment?
Yes. The copayment is a personal contribution on top of the benefits of your health insurer. The insurer covers the rest of the treatment, and you pay the daily amount in addition.
Does the hospital copayment count towards the cap?
Yes. Copayments are taken into account up to the cap over the whole calendar year (§ 62 para. 1 SGB V). The hospital copayment therefore belongs in the total you should keep in view for the exemption.
Does the rule also apply to privately insured people?
No. The copayments concern statutory health insurance. Private tariffs set their own cost shares under their own terms, which you will find in your contract.
How do I know which amount applies to my treatment?
The relevant date follows from the transitional rule of the act. Your health insurer or the hospital can tell you which amount is charged for your treatment.
What if a stay spans the turn of the year?
The cap applies to each calendar year. A stay that touches the turn of the year can therefore involve copayments from two years. Ask the hospital to assign the billing correctly so that you keep both years in view.
What to do now
- Check whether the new daily amount already applies to your planned treatment.
- Calculate with the daily amount and the copayments you have already paid in the year.
- Apply for the copayment exemption as soon as the cap comes into view.
- Have the hospital bill checked for days and amounts.
Related articles
- Krankenkasse 2027: What changes for insured persons and students (in German)
- Copayments 2027: what the GKV contribution stabilisation act changes (in German)
- Apply for a copayment exemption: checklist with steps and documents (in German)
- Pharmacy copayment 2027: what changes per medicine (in German)
- Copayment exemption and cap for students (in German)
Sources: FAQ on the GKV contribution stabilisation act, BMG (status November 2026); Published text of the act, Federal Law Gazette part I no. 228 of 29 July 2026 (secondary reproduction, Paritätischer Gesamtverband, in German); § 62 SGB V, annual cap (gesetze-im-internet.de, in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
