Health Insurance in Germany 2026: Important Changes for Indian Expats

Health insurance in Germany for Indians is one of the biggest monthly costs – and from January 2026, contributions will change again. For Indian expats in Germany, this is important: higher contribution limits, more expensive public health insurance (GKV), and at the same time, a bigger employer subsidy for private health insurance (PKV).

Key Numbers for 2026

• Income limit for PKV (JAEG): rises from €73,800 → €77,400
  (If your salary is below this, you cannot switch to private health insurance.)

• Maximum income for GKV contributions (BBG KV): €66,150 → €69,750

• Maximum income for pension insurance (BBG RV): €96,600 → €101,400

👉 For Indian professionals in Germany, this means: More of your salary will be charged with social insurance contributions.

More Support for Private Health Insurance (PKV)

If you already have private health insurance in Germany, your employer will pay a bigger share:

• Employer subsidy for PKV: €471.32 → €496.97 per month

• Employer subsidy for nursing care: €198.45 → €209.25 per month

This makes private health insurance more attractive, especially for young Indian IT professionals or engineers with higher salaries.

Higher Costs for Public Health Insurance (GKV)

If you stay in the public system, costs will rise:

• Maximum monthly contribution (without children): about €1,238.07

• Cheapest health insurance in Germany (2026): around €1,221.21 (e.g. BKK Faber-Castell, BKK firmus)

• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK): approx. €1,233.30 per month – very popular with Indian students and expats

• Most expensive (Knappschaft): up to €1,350.24 per month

👉 The difference between the cheapest and most expensive public health insurance funds will be more than €100 every month.

Example: Indian IT Engineer with €80,000 Salary

Let’s say you are an Indian IT engineer in Germany with €80,000 gross salary in 2026:

• If you stay in GKV (e.g. TK):
  You will pay around €1,233 per month, which is over €14,700 per year.

• If you switch to PKV:
  Your premium depends on age and coverage, but your employer will pay up to €706.22 every month (health + care insurance subsidy).
  Often this means your private insurance is cheaper than GKV, especially if you are young, healthy, and without children.

This shows clearly: For Indian expats in Germany, private health insurance can be a smart choice – but only if you act before the new income limit makes switching harder.

Conclusion: Best Health Insurance for Indians in Germany

• Public health insurance (GKV) becomes more expensive.

• Private health insurance (PKV) offers more flexibility and higher employer contributions.

• Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is still a strong choice in GKV, especially for Indian students, but it is no longer a cheap option.

👉 The best health insurance in Germany for Indians depends on your salary, family situation, and future plans. If you are an Indian professional in Germany, it is important to compare GKV vs PKV now – before 2026 makes it harder and more costly to switch.

Public vs. Private Health Insurance in Germany 2026 – Comparison for Indian Expats

👉 Key takeaway for Indian professionals in Germany:

• If your salary is high, PKV can be cheaper than GKV – especially with the higher employer subsidy in 2026.

• If you have a non-working spouse or several children, GKV (e.g. TK) can still be better because of free family coverage.