Polski
Українська
Türkçe
العربية
English
Deutsch
Русский
Română
Italiano
Español
Hrvatski
Srpski
فارسی
Tiếng Việt
ΕλληνικάSocial Insurance — The 5 Pillars of the German System
Status: March 2026. All information without guarantee.
The 5 Pillars
| Insurance | Contribution Rate 2026 | Employee Share | Employer Share | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Insurance | 14.6 % + ∅ 2.9 % | 50 % | 50 % | Doctor visits, hospital, medication |
| Rentenversicherung | 18.6 % | 9.3 % | 9.3 % | Retirement, disability pension |
| Pflegeversicherung | 3.6 % (4.2 % childless) | ~50 % | ~50 % | Care in old age/illness |
| Arbeitslosenversicherung | 2.6 % | 1.3 % | 1.3 % | ALG I upon job loss |
| Unfallversicherung | varies by industry | 0 % | 100 % | Workplace accidents, occupational diseases |
Total burden 2026: approx. 40–42 % of gross salary (split between employee and employer)
Contribution Assessment Ceilings 2026
| Health/Long-term Care Insurance | Rentenversicherung/Arbeitslosenversicherung | |
|---|---|---|
| West | €66,150/year (€5,512.50/month) | €96,600/year (€8,050/month) |
| East | €66,150/year | €96,600/year |
| Insurance Obligation Threshold | €73,800/year (€6,150/month) | — |
Above the contribution ceiling, contributions do not increase. The insurance obligation threshold determines when you may opt for private insurance.
What Do You Get?
Health Insurance:
- Doctor visits, hospital, medication, dental treatment, preventive care
Rentenversicherung:
- Retirement pension (standard retirement age: 67 years)
- Disability pension due to illness/accident
- Survivor's pension for spouse/children
- Rehabilitation (spa treatment, retraining)
Pflegeversicherung:
- Care allowance, benefits in kind, nursing home subsidy
Arbeitslosenversicherung:
- ALG I (60–67 % of net salary, 6–24 months)
- Further education offers, job placement
Unfallversicherung:
- Treatment following workplace accidents
- Accident pension for permanent disability
- Commute accidents (on the way to work)
Tips
- Keep your social insurance card — you need it with every new employer
- Your pension statement comes annually by post from age 27 — check the details!
- Abroad: Your pension entitlements do not expire