The Statutory Health Insurance Contribution Rate Stabilization Act , passed by the Bundestag on July 10, 2026, will bring about significant financial cuts and structural adjustments starting in 2027. The goal of the reform package is to offset the billion-euro deficit of the statutory health insurance funds and keep contribution rates stable.
What if you could more than offset the benefit cuts and additional burdens on your employees with a customized health plan?
This is exactly where supplemental employer-sponsored health insurance (bKV) comes in. It expands existing health insurance coverage to include additional health benefits that the employer pays for on behalf of its employees. It is a supplemental health insurance plan that complements statutory health insurance precisely in those areas where employees and employers see real added value.
An overview of the key changes in the reform.
The 2027 healthcare reform must be viewed as a comprehensive cost-cutting package for statutory health insurance. This means that, in some cases, it will become significantly more expensive for insured individuals and employers: higher copayments and premiums, coupled with reduced benefits. The following changes have been finalized:
Why Now Is the Right Time for Supplementary Health Insurance!
“Anyone who manages their company and staff responsibly must ask themselves: What does it cost their own company not to have a supplementary health insurance plan?” (Tim Bütecke, owner and CEO of the HFH Group, Hamburg).
Many companies are currently reviewing their HR and benefits strategies—not least to boost their workforce’s motivation, retention, and willingness to perform!
Investing in the health of all employees is one of the most effective and efficient measures employers can provide for their employees. When professionally planned and implemented, a supplementary health insurance plan delivers significant added value for both employees and employers, as the following benefits illustrate:
bKV Health Benefits for Employees (Selection)
- Specialist Appointment Service: Waiting times for specialist appointments are likely to increase significantly as a result of the healthcare reform, particularly for those with statutory health insurance (GKV). The bottom line is that this will result in longer absences from work and higher costs. The supplementary health insurance (bKV) offers a specialist appointment service that is not only highly valued but has also been proven to reduce absences due to illness.
- Preventive Care: Regular preventive care is essential for preventing serious illnesses or detecting and treating them at an early stage. Preventive care services are among the core benefits covered by supplemental health insurance (bKV).
- Medications and medical supplies: Copayments for prescriptions may be covered by the bKV.
- Medical Treatments and Assistive Devices: Medical treatments include, among other things, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Massages, in particular, are very popular with bKV members. Assistive devices, on the other hand, include items such as blood pressure monitors, bandages, and much more.
- Alternative Medicine Services: Whether it’s osteopathy, acupuncture, or homeopathy—subsidies are available for treatment by alternative practitioners. Alternative therapies are generally not covered by statutory health insurance.
- Dental Care: One to two professional dental cleanings per year are recommended. The bKV provides subsidies for dental cleanings and treatments, as well as for dental prosthetics.
These and an additional 300 health benefits are available to all employees on an individual basis, based on their annual salary and budget tier. And companies that have implemented a supplementary health insurance plan almost universally confirm that investing in workplace health significantly and sustainably improves motivation, loyalty, and satisfaction.
Benefits of Supplementary Health Insurance for Employers
It’s no secret that motivated and high-performing teams are essential for sustainable business success! Therefore, entrepreneurs and/or CEOs are responsible not only for results, but also for the well-being of their teams! The following benefits clearly demonstrate the potential of investing in workplace well-being:
- Care & Appreciation in Challenging Times: The bKV serves as a psychological message: “Your health is important to us! We invest in your health and plan the future of our company together with you. There’s hardly a better way to express responsibility and appreciation.
- Greater Loyalty & Motivation: With the bKV, employers express their appreciation to their employees in a way that truly resonates and has been proven to foster internal loyalty. It boosts internal motivation and strengthens the company’s image, while also enhancing its appeal as an employer to the outside world.
- Reducing Absenteeism Due to Illness: Through preventive care budgets and faster access to (private) medical care, employees get sick less often (prevention) and recover more quickly when they do fall ill. This permanently reduces high absenteeism rates and costs and increases overall productivity!
- High Return on Investment (ROI): Supplementary health insurance (bKV) is classified as a non-cash benefit and is exempt from taxes and social security contributions up to 50.00 EUR per month. Practical experience shows that a well-planned supplementary health insurance plan offers multiple financial benefits. For example, it provides a far higher net benefit compared to a salary increase. And if employee absenteeism is reduced by just one day per employee per year, the supplementary health insurance plan pays for itself entirely. From a financial perspective, there is hardly any other investment in the context of performance-based compensation that offers such a high return!
Conclusion
Take advantage of the healthcare reform now as a way to boost health and motivation in your company! Supplementary health insurance is not a social benefit or just another cost factor. It is an indispensable investment in the long-term health and satisfaction of all employees—and thus a key driver of your future competitive edge and business success! We would be delighted to support you on this journey.
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As a full-service provider specializing in workplace health management and supplementary health insurance (bKV), FAKTOR MENSCH supports FAKTOR MENSCH clients from the initial consultation through to successful implementation and ongoing support. For 26 years now—based in Hamburg, serving all of Germany. Feel free to contact us.
Sources:
https://www.hansemerkur.de/gesundheit-vorsorge/gesundheitsreform
Note:
FAKTOR MENSCH researched and prepared the content of this blog post with the utmost care. The information is intended as a guide and is meant to provide readers with an initial overview of the healthcare reform. We ask for your understanding that we cannot, however, guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided.