The Ärzteversorgung Hessen (physicians’ pension scheme, Versorgungswerk) belongs to the Landesärztekammer Hessen (state medical chamber). Anyone who becomes a chamber member is normally a member of the scheme as well. This guide shows which maximum contribution was published for 2026, how the exemption from statutory pension insurance works and why you should keep the scheme and the chamber contribution apart.
Short answer: The Ärzteversorgung Hessen publishes a monthly maximum contribution of 1,571.70 euros for 2026 in the report of its delegates’ assembly (issue 01/2026). This equals 18.6 percent of the statutory pension insurance assessment limit of 8,450 euros. You apply for exemption from statutory pension insurance through the scheme. Last updated: October 2026. The statutes remain decisive.
The most important points
- The scheme belongs to the Landesärztekammer Hessen and is compulsory for its members.
- For 2026 the report names a monthly maximum contribution of 1,571.70 euros.
- The maximum follows the rate of 18.6 percent applied to an assessment limit of 8,450 euros per month.
- Exemption from statutory pension insurance is governed by § 6 SGB VI.
- The chamber contribution is a separate calculation: it funds the chamber and follows its own scale.
- According to the chamber report, the Aktivrente (wage-tax exemption up to 2,000 euros per month for employed workers) is not an exemption rule for the scheme.
How high is the contribution to the Ärzteversorgung Hessen?
The report of the Landesärztekammer Hessen explains how the limits develop. The assessment limit of statutory pension insurance rises from 8,050 euros to 8,450 euros per month in 2026. The contribution rate of the German pension insurance stays at 18.6 percent, and according to the report this rate also applies to the scheme.
| Figure | Value for 2026 |
|---|---|
| Assessment limit of statutory pension insurance per month | 8,450 euros |
| Contribution rate (named as applicable in the report) | 18.6 percent |
| Maximum contribution to the scheme per month | 1,571.70 euros |
Last updated: issue 01/2026 of the Landesärztekammer Hessen. The arithmetic is 8,450 euros times 0.186, which gives 1,571.70 euros. The report names this amount as the monthly maximum. How it applies to your income appears in your own contribution notice.
The maximum is a ceiling. If your income from medical work exceeds it, you do not pay more. Below it, the contribution depends on the income that the statutes treat as relevant.
When does the exemption from statutory pension insurance apply?
The exemption is set out in § 6 SGB VI. Employees and self-employed people who are by law members of a professional pension scheme and of a chamber are exempt, provided three conditions are met. For Hessen this means that the duty to join the chamber and the scheme is the starting point, not a free choice.
| Subsection | Content | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| § 6 para. 1 | Exemption where membership in the scheme and the chamber is required by law, under three conditions | The exemption relates to your compulsory activity |
| § 6 para. 2 | Application filed electronically through the scheme | Deadlines run from receipt there |
| § 6 para. 5 | Applies only to the specific employment or activity | A change requires a new check |
The distinction from the chamber contribution matters. The contribution order of the Landesärztekammer Hessen, valid from contribution year 2023, works with a scale table and has a maximum of 6,500 euros per year. These figures concern the chamber, not the scheme.
| Contribution | Responsible body | Basis according to the source |
|---|---|---|
| Pension scheme | Versorgungswerk der Landesärztekammer Hessen | Maximum contribution 2026 according to the chamber report |
| Chamber contribution | Landesärztekammer Hessen | Contribution order from 2023, scale table, maximum 6,500 euros per year |
Which benefits does the scheme offer?
The chamber report names no pension factor and no disability benefits. The statutes of the scheme set the benefits. If you plan your old-age provision, read the statutes closely and separately for old-age pension, disability and survivors’ benefits.
A pension scheme does not replace private cover if you are unable to work for a long period. Whether you also need a disability policy depends on the level of your benefits, your income and your life plan.
Does the Hessian scheme suit your path?
- It fits well if you work permanently in Hesse and plan the scheme as your old-age provision.
- It fits less well if you move to another German state. Then reciprocal arrangements and the statutes of both schemes decide.
- It needs supplementing if you want to secure disability cover and the statutes give no clear answer.
A personal assessment of your situation is available through the advice at Academycon, details at How we work.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Aktivrente affect the exemption?
According to the chamber report, the Aktivrente concerns the wage tax of employed doctors. It is not an exemption rule of the scheme. The exemption under § 6 SGB VI still has to be checked on its own terms.
Is the chamber contribution the same as the contribution to the scheme?
No. The chamber contribution funds the chamber and follows a scale table. The contribution to the scheme is a separate figure with its own ceiling. Check the two notices separately.
When do I have to apply for the exemption?
You file the application through the scheme, electronically. For deadlines, receipt at the scheme counts. If you wait too long, you may face questions about contributions already paid, so make contact early.
Can I transfer my entitlements if I move to Bavaria?
That depends on the reciprocal arrangements and the statutes of both schemes. There is no general answer. Ask both schemes before you make the move.
What counts as income for the contribution?
The statutes define which income from medical work is taken into account. Employed and self-employed doctors may face different rules, so read the section on how contributions are assessed.
What to do now
- Check your membership in the Landesärztekammer Hessen and your contribution notices.
- Read the chamber report and the statutes of the scheme on maximum contribution and benefits.
- File the exemption application through the scheme as soon as your compulsory work begins.
- Keep the chamber contribution and the scheme contribution apart in your bookkeeping, so you can track both.
- Clarify disability cover in a personal consultation before you sign a contract.
Related guides
- Doctors in postgraduate training: combining PKV, pension scheme and disability cover
- Career start after university in Germany: your guide to the first job
- Ärzteversorgung Bremen: contributions, exemption and benefits
- Ärzteversorgung Hamburg: contributions, exemption and benefits
Sources: § 6 SGB VI, exemption from compulsory insurance (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026, in German); Report on the Versorgungswerk of the Landesärztekammer Hessen, issue 01/2026 (in German); Contribution order of the Landesärztekammer Hessen, valid from 2023 (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
