Germany's social insurance has five pillars. Employees are automatically insured. The employer registers you, and contributions come straight off your payslip.
| Pillar | Rate 2026 (total) | Who pays | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health (Krankenversicherung) | 14.6% + add-on (avg. 2.9%) | 50/50 | Doctors, hospital, medicines, sick pay from week 7 |
| Long-term care (Pflegeversicherung) | 3.6% (+0.6% childless) | 50/50 (surcharge: employee only) | Care at home or in care homes |
| Pension (Rentenversicherung) | 18.6% | 50/50 | Old-age, disability and survivors' pensions, rehab |
| Unemployment (Arbeitslosenversicherung) | 2.6% | 50/50 | ALG I, job placement, training |
| Accident (Unfallversicherung) | varies | Employer only | Accidents at work and on the direct way to/from work |
Limits for 2026
| Value | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution ceiling for health and care (BBG KV) | €5,812.50 | €69,750 |
| Contribution ceiling for pension and unemployment (BBG RV) | €8,450 | €101,400 |
| Threshold to leave statutory health insurance (JAEG) | €6,450 | €77,400 |
| Minijob limit | €603 | — |
Coming from abroad
- EU/EEA/Switzerland: insurance periods from other EU countries count towards eligibility (EU coordination, Regulation 883/2004). Bring the S1/E104 forms or ask your new Krankenkasse to request them.
- Social security agreements (Sozialversicherungsabkommen) exist with countries such as the USA, Canada, India, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Australia, Brazil and China. They prevent double contributions for posted workers and let pension periods count together.
- Posted workers keep home-country insurance with an A1 certificate (EU) or a certificate of coverage (agreement countries).
Accidents at work
Tell your employer immediately and say it was a work accident (Arbeitsunfall) or a commuting accident (Wegeunfall) when you see a doctor — ideally a Durchgangsarzt (D-Arzt) appointed by the accident insurance. Costs are then covered fully by the accident insurer, not your Krankenkasse.