The EU is ending the €150 duty-free import threshold for platforms like Temu. This means from 2028 onward, goods imported into the EU will face customs fees from the first euro. [1]
Germany plans to introduce a voluntary military service scheme beginning in 2026. It aims at boosting the Bundeswehr by recruiting tens of thousands of young people through incentives rather than compulsory enlistment. While conscription remains suspended, the government has built in a mechanism that could reactivate mandatory service if volunteer numbers fall short of targets. [2]
Health insurance in 2026
Both public and private health insurance will get expensive in 2026. Here is what you can expect.
Public health insurance premiums in 2026
Public health insurance premiums depend on two things.
Additional contribution: Set by each public insurer. The current average is 2.5%.
Maximum income considered for calculating the premium: Set by the German government. It's 5512.5€ currently.
Both of them will increase in 2026.
The average additional contribution will increase to 2.9%
The maximum income considered for premium calculation will increase to 5812.5€.
The table below shows how much more you'll pay every month in public health insurance in 2026. We assume you are earning more than 5812.5€ per month in 2026.
Public health insurance premium. It doesn't include long-term care insurance contributions.
If you are employed, you'll share the premium burden equally with your employer. Self-employed must bear the whole costs themselves.
Suppose your current insurer charges a 2.5% additional contribution in 2025 and increases it to 2.9% in 2026. In this case, you'll pay 30€ more every month or 360€ more in 2026.
If you add long-term care contributions, the burden increases to 42.6€ per month or 511€ per annum.
Private health insurance premiums in 2026
People insured in private health insurance premiums should also expect a premium increase. According to the German Private Health Insurance Association (PKV), around 60% of all policyholders will face an average premium increase of 13% in 2026.
The table below shows how much you'll pay in 2026.
Increase in private health insurance premiums in 2026
Again, if you are employed, you'll share the premium burden equally with your employer. Self-employed must bear the whole costs themselves.
Your premiums could increase even further
depending on your age and benefits.
if you have an under-calculated policy that was sold at a very low price.
We have written an in-depth report covering
How much do you pay during your lifetime in both systems?
It is not surprising that the insurance premiums are rising every year. Three main factors contribute to it.
Aging population: Older people require more medical care than younger individuals.
Leaving workforce: Many people are retiring and hence leaving the workforce. This has a direct impact on the total premiums that health insurers collect.
Rising medical costs due to inflation.
This means you should expect the trend to continue. You should do the following to ensure you can afford health insurance in the future.
Keep an eye on the additional contribution of your public health insurer. Switch to a public insurer that charges a lower additional contribution. You can switch between public insurers any number of times. There is a minimum term of 12 months and a 2-month notice period.
Create a savings reserve. Regardless of whether you are insured with public or private insurance, start building a savings reserve. This reserve will help you pay for the health insurance in your old age. Government policies can change anytime. Don't rely on the government and current social system to cover you in old age. You can open a fixed account* or a daily account* to save at least 10% of your current monthly premium every month. You can also open an ETF savings plan in a trading account.
NEVER switch to private health insurance to save money
At GermanPedia, we have worked with many insurance brokers and companies. Over time, we have heard many sad stories of people who joined private health insurance with the sole purpose of saving money.
Here are the mistakes they made
Answered the health questionnaire incorrectly. Some did it intentionally, unintentionally, or based on the advice of their insurance AGENT / ADVISOR. When the time came to access medical care, the private health insurance company refused to cover the costs. Moreover, the private insurer kicked the user out of the insurance plan. Now the user has no insurance and a big fat bill for medical expenses.
Opted for the cheapest plan to save money. You must understand why your plan is cheap. Here is how insurers offer cheap plans
Cheap plans undercalculate your future medical expenses. This means, as you age, your premiums will skyrocket. They may become so high that you can't afford them anymore.
They don't create an aging reserve. Again, with age, the premiums will increase drastically.
They offer poor coverage. So, when you need the health insurance the most, it's not there.
Getting health insurance advice from insurance AGENTS instead of insurance BROKERS. You can read more about it in our past newsletter under the section "Key takeaways from the webinar: Understanding German Health Insurance".
Conclusion
Never switch to private health insurance to save money. The reason is that during your lifetime, you'll pay approximately the same in both systems.
In the private system, you pay less during your working life. However, pay more in your retirement.
In the public system, you pay more during your working life. However, pay less in your retirement.
Health insurance is to cover your medical needs when you are sick. Never compromise on it.
German public healthcare is one of the best in the world. Yes, it's deteriorating over time. However, it's safer to stay in public than to move to a cheap/bad private plan.
It's common that expats wait for several months to hear from the authorities. What can you do in such situations?
Here are your options
First, get a Fiktionsbescheinigung or an email from the authorities. This will act as proof that you are legally residing in Germany.
Inaction Lawsuit (Untätigkeitsklage)
Provisional Injunctive Relief
Inaction Lawsuit (Untätigkeitsklage)
You can file an Untätigkeitsklage if the authorities do nothing with your case for more than three months.
The court will then force the authority to make a decision. But keep in mind, this decision is not guaranteed to be positive.
The court only ensures that the authority responds. The authority's answer could still be a rejection if you don't meet the requirements.
Thus, you must ensure that you meet all the requirements before filing the Untätigkeitsklage. A lawyer can help you determine if you meet the requirements.
NOTE: When it comes to a German citizenship application, you should wait at least 9 months before filing Untätigkeitsklage.
How long does it take to get a response after filing the Untätigkeitsklage?
There is no timeline set in law. The court needs time to process your case. The speed depends on the city and the court.
In some cases, decisions were made in as little as three months. In other cases, people had to wait much longer.
Do you get the legal fees back if you win the Untätigkeitsklage?
In Germany, the losing party pays the legal fees of the winning party (except in labor law).
This means that if the court considers that the immigration authority must make a decision, you have won the case. However, the decision the authority makes might or might not be in your favor.
Can you file the Untätigkeitsklage yourself?
Yes, you can file the Untätigkeitsklage yourself. You only have to pay the court fees. You will get the court fees back if you win the case.
How much does a lawyer charge for filing the Untätigkeitsklage?
Normally, lawyers charge up to 2500€ for filing the Untätigkeitsklage.
The provisional injunctive relief is a legal tool that can be used when you need a fast decision.
Unlike the inaction lawsuit, which only forces the authority to make a decision, this procedure goes directly to the court. The court can issue a temporary decision very quickly. This makes it useful in urgent cases, such as the risk of losing your job or residence.
With provisional injunctive relief, the focus is on giving you temporary legal security while your case is pending with the immigration authorities.
It is considered the fastest option to protect your rights when the authorities are not responding.
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BMW AG will receive around €273 million in funding from the German federal government and the state of Bavaria for its “HyPowerDrive” project. The project aims at developing a hydrogen (fuel-cell) drive train for premium vehicles. [1]
Russia launched large-scale air strikes on the Ukrainian capital on Friday morning. Four people were killed and many others were injured. [2]
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