Your new additional contribution in 2023

We remain below the average additional contribution due to solid financial planning

More than one million insured people trust SBK. Fairness and transparency are part of this trust. That is why we would like to inform our members openly and comprehensibly regarding their adjusted additional contribution rate in 2023.

As you have seen in the media, the government has decided on a comprehensive package of measures to ensure that our healthcare system continues to be securely financed. As one component, the average additional contribution of all statutory health insurance funds was raised by 0.3 percentage points to 1.6% for 2023.

The good news: due to solid financial planning, we will remain below the average additional contribution rate. We are adjusting our additional contribution rate by just 0.2 percentage points. As of January 2023, it will be 1.5%. Employees and pension recipients will only pay half of this.

Due to the adjustment of our additional contribution rate, you may decide to join a different health insurance fund. If you are considering this, the membership application must be submitted to the new health insurance fund by 31 January 2023. From the beginning of January, the current contribution rates of all health insurance companies can then be viewed at www.gkv-zusatzbeitraege.de.

Our promise to you, however, remains unchanged: SBK will continue to be your reliable partner and high-quality provider in the future. The Kundenmonitor 2022 customer survey confirmed this once again – first place for SBK in the overall satisfaction category in the statutory health insurance sector.

You can continue to count on our personal advice and special additional services, such as the special breast cancer screening programme ‘Discovering Hands’, fitness checks and osteopathy.

We are also continuously developing our own digital service, the Meine SBK app, which is always geared to the needs of our policyholders. You too can use this practical app and gain more time for other things.

Get answers to commonly asked questions here:

: The health insurance contribution consists of two components. The general contribution rate, which is fixed by law, and the individual additional contribution of each health insurance fund. The general contribution rate is currently 14.6% and the average additional contribution rate is currently 1.3%. Contributions are calculated as a percentage of income. Employees pay only half of both the general contribution rate and the additional contribution. The employer pays the other half.
SBK’s individual additional contribution rate will be 1.5% from 1 January 2023 , which is lower than the average additional contribution rate of 1.6%.

: The statutory health insurance system is currently expected to post a deficit of around 17 billion euros next year. Therefore, one measure taken by the government is an increase of 0.3% in the average additional contribution to a total of 1.6%. It is expected that many health insurers will raise their additional contribution at the turn of 2023 or in the course of next year.

: The adjustment of the additional contribution rate has no effect on the benefits provided by SBK. The benefits will remain in full. In addition, we are focusing on innovative treatments and preventive measures with which we can specifically support our insured persons in the future. For example, as of 1 September 2022, SBK is covering the costs of the meningococcal B vaccination for young children and the HPV vaccination for 18–26-year-olds, and will also offer you innovative prevention services such as the digital prevention programme 7Mind. We are also continuously developing our bonus scheme. From 2023 onwards, participants in the bonus scheme will find it easier to acquire the bonus from the ‘Health-conscious behaviour’ programme and the bonus credit can also be used for the cost of professional dental cleaning. In 2023, you will not have to submit an invoice for this.

: Currently, the statutory health insurance system has a total deficit of around 17 billion euros, which is mainly due to three reasons. Firstly, services have been expanded, such as the appointment service at the doctor’s or more money for nursing staff. Secondly, our society is aging and needs more medical care every year. And thirdly, we are getting better and better at treatment methods. These innovations are valuable developments, but they also cost money.

: Our additional contribution rate will be adjusted as of 1 January 2023. The new additional contribution rate is 1.5%.
For pensioners, the adjustment of the additional contribution will not take place until 1 March 2023, as the pension insurance providers will not make the changeover in the system until then.

: The amount of the additional costs depends on your income, as this is the basis for calculating the contribution.
You are welcome to use our contribution calculator to calculate your new contribution. Alternatively, you can see the change on your next payslip/pension statement/contribution notice.
Here is a small sample calculation:
For every €1,000 of gross income, the costs increase by approx. €2. If you earn €3,000 gross per month, the additional costs will therefore be approx. €6. For employees, half of the contribution is paid by the employer. For pensioners, half of the contribution is paid by the pension insurance institutions.

: For the first time, the legislative has suspended the obligation to inform customers in writing by letter. We therefore informed policyholders via our website and additionally via email so that our customers have the highest transparency. If you have not received this email and wish to be informed in good time in the future, please check your current contact details and consent to the processing of data and information by email. You can do this quickly and easily in the Meine SBK app.

: You don’t need to do anything else. The rate will be adjusted automatically.

Employees

Employees only pay half of the contribution adjustment: i.e., 0.1 instead of 0.2 percentage points. The employer pays for the other half.

Other voluntary insured persons

Voluntary SBK members pay the general or the reduced contribution rate, depending on the type of income they have. The additional contribution is adjusted for both.

Students

Students up to the age of 25 are usually insured free of charge with their parents. If they are insured themselves via the favourable student tariff at SBK, their amount is based on the general BAföG rate, even if they do not receive BAföG.

Pension recipients

Pension recipients bear only half of the contribution adjustment. The pension provider pays the other half.

Self-employed

Self-employed people who are voluntarily insured with SBK can choose between a general contribution rate with sick pay and a reduced rate without sick pay. The additional contribution included in both will change in 2023.

Trainees

Trainees only pay half of the contribution adjustment. The employer pays the other half.

Families

Family insurance is free of charge for co-insured family members.

Unemployed

For recipients of unemployment benefits I and II, the Jobcenter pays the general health insurance contribution as well as the additional contribution in full.