German Health Insurance Vote Looms as Doctor Fees Rise and Employer Duties Tighten

German lawmakers are set to vote on June 26, 2026, on a law that would slash the deficit in statutory health insurance by at least €16.3 billion a year from 2027. The GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz — the formal name of the bill — would end the free spousal co-insurance system and replace it with a 2.5?% surcharge on gross income. Parents of children under seven, people caring for relatives at home, and retirees would be exempt from the new levy.

The legislation comes as several sickness funds have already applied to raise their supplementary contribution rates from July 1. The GKV-Spitzenverband, the umbrella body for statutory insurers, warned that reserves had shrunk to around €2?billion at the turn of the year — a thin cushion for a system covering 73 million people.

While German lawmakers focus on healthcare reform, UK employers cannot afford to neglect their own safety obligations. A free toolkit helps you stay compliant with all major UK health and safety regulations, from risk assessments to fire safety. Over 37,000 UK companies already use it to protect their employees and avoid penalties. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit

Unfallversicherung: Saxony bucks the pressure

While the health insurance side is in crisis mode, the accident insurance branch shows a different picture for one region. The Unfallkasse Sachsen has frozen its 2026 contribution rates at the previous year’s level, based on a bylaw adopted on December 10, 2024, and calculated from the May 15, 2022 census. First payments fell due as early as January 15 this year.

The per-capita contributions vary widely:

• State of Saxony: €9.90 per resident
• Independent cities (kreisfreie Städte): €13.39 per resident
• Municipalities within counties: €8.94 per resident
• Rural counties: €4.45 per resident
• Private households: 1.5?% of gross pay
• Self?employed businesses: €6.10 per €1,000 of payroll

Doctor fees jump 5?% from July

A major structural reform of the fee schedule for physicians working under the statutory accident insurance system — the UV?GOÄ — takes effect on the same date as the supplementary?rate hikes. From July 1, 2026, most medical services will be paid 5?% more. Two categories are excluded: basic services and arthroscopies, which now receive their own dedicated section with code numbers 3400 through 3444.

The revised schedule introduces new surcharges for early?stage treatment and for care that involves unusually difficult communication with patients. Material?cost surcharges have also been updated. The change resets the billing cycle, creating a new “case start” for every patient treated on or after July 1.

Workplace safety and pension duties

Employers face their own regulatory deadlines. Safety checks of commercial equipment under DGUV Vorschrift 3 remain mandatory at least once a year, with per?device costs ranging from €50 to €200. Responsibility for arranging and paying for the inspections falls squarely on the employer.

Regular equipment inspections are a must under both German and UK safety rules. But without the right paperwork, you risk fines from the Health and Safety Executive. A free toolkit gives you ready-to-use risk assessments and checklists that cover equipment inspections and more. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit

The Federal Labour Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht) added clarity to another employer obligation in a ruling handed down on June 24, 2025. The court held that the statutory duty to top up an employee’s direct?insurance (Direktversicherung) policy is satisfied as soon as the employer pays the contribution to the pension provider. No separate fulfilment agreement is required — what matters is the designated purpose of the payment.

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