Impact of changes to unemployment in 2026 and the right to reimbursement and benefits
Did you receive a message from the National Employment Office (RVA) that your unemployment benefits will end in 2026? What happens to your entitlement to benefits and healthcare reimbursement?
The government has decided to limit unemployment benefits over time. This means that unemployment benefits will stop for an initial group of unemployed people starting January 1, 2026. These people will be notified by the National Employment Office (RVA) in September 2025.
If your benefits stop, it may affect your right to reimbursement from your health insurance. But those consequences only occur in the long term. Your right to reimbursement is still fully guaranteed for 2026 and 2027, provided you received unemployment benefits in 2024 and 2025.
In its message, the RVA refers you to your health insurance fund for more information about the consequences of your unemployment benefits ending. However, these consequences are not expected in the short term, so you don't need to contact CM. Even if your unemployment benefits end on January 1, 2026, your right to reimbursement from your health insurance will continue for a considerable period.
- The government decided to limit unemployment over time.
- Unemployed people who received a notification from the RVA that their benefits will stop on January 1, 2026, are referred to their health insurance fund for the consequences for their health insurance.
- There are no short-term consequences for your right to a refund: your right remains unaffected for 2026 and 2027. So you don't need to contact CM for this.
- CM is also making the procedures as simple as possible for the situation after 2027, so that you can continue to be covered by health insurance after 2027.
The right to reimbursement in healthcare means that your medical expenses, such as hospitalizations, doctor visits, and pharmacy visits, are partially reimbursed by your health insurance. To qualify for this right, you must be up-to-date on your social security contributions. For employees, this is covered by their employer's salary; self-employed individuals pay their contributions directly to their social security fund. Unemployed individuals are also entitled to reimbursement.
To determine whether you're entitled to reimbursement for a given period, your health insurance fund checks whether you've been up to date with your social security contributions in the past. In other words, what you contribute today affects your future reimbursement entitlement. For example, your unemployment benefits could end, but your reimbursement entitlement could remain for a considerable period.
In concrete terms: those who were unemployed in 2024 and 2025 are also entitled to reimbursement in 2026 and 2027.
For now, you don't need to contact CM. Your right to healthcare reimbursement continues, even if your unemployment benefits end. If you were unemployed in 2024 and 2025, your right to reimbursement will continue in 2026 and 2027.
Do you have any other questions about your personal situation? You can contact us through the usual channels .