The Germany ticket will be more expensive and what else will change in 2025

Life is constantly changing - partly becauseLaws and rulesare subject to constant change. Especially in uncertain times like these. Of course, a lot will happen in Germany too, traffic lights off or not.We'll reveal what's changing. Small spoiler: Above all, it will be more expensive.

Considering the fact that a lot is happening politically at the moment - after all, federal elections are coming up in just a few weeks - there will definitely be a lot of other things on the way in the coming year. We therefore make no claim to completeness.

Let's just start with some good news, because: Goodbye to adapters - with USB-C, the mandatory, uniform connection forand. In the future, the mess of different and incompatible plugs will be over, not to mention the resulting waste (around 11,000 tons of electronic waste is generated in the EU every year from discarded and unused chargers alone). From 2025, there will only be one USB-C port for everyone, regardless of whether it is a smartphone, tablet or other small mobile device. Finally!

The good news is: The popular Germany ticket remains. This was announced in mid-November. However, what things will look like for 2026 is still up in the air - especially since there are rather critical voices about it from the CDU/CSU. In addition: the Germany ticket will remain in 2025, but it will be more expensive. Instead of the previous 49 euros, it will cost 58 euros per month from January, but the service remains the same: This means that local and regional buses and trains can still be used nationwide, but not long-distance trains. We can look forward to seeing what happens next in 2026 with a new federal government for the Deutschlandticket.

We are moving away from paper and towards digital – albeit with the usual delay in Germany. While it has long been common practice in other countries, electronic patient files will also be available here from January 15th - but initially only in selected model regions: Hamburg, Franconia and parts of North Rhine-Westphalia. After a 6-week pilot phase, the electronic patient file should then be usable throughout Germany, depending on the results of the test phase. Information about illnesses is stored on it: doctor's letters, surgical and/or image findings such as X-rays. It also contains all medicines that patients have received via e-prescription. The functions of the electronic patient record will then be gradually expanded.

Older students still know it: amalgam fillings in the teeth, which were considered cheap and durable for a long time. However: Amalgam also contains toxic mercury and has therefore been controversial for a long time. As of January 1st, this will be over: Dental practices across the EU are no longer allowed to use amalgam for new dental fillings, which is intended to reduce mercury in the environment in the medium and long term. Instead, so-called self-adhesive materials (without additional payment) will be used in the future, which are tooth-colored plastic fillings that are inserted in several layers without additional adhesive. But don't worry: If you still have amalgam fillings, you don't have to have them removed. The ban only applies to newly inserted fillings from January 1, 2025.

Sounds like a promising approach: increase costs but reduce performance. This is what happened in the new regulation of the Postal Act. Until now, letters had to reach their destination on the first or second day, but from 2025 it will be enough if they arrive on the third day. At the same time, however, prices are being increased: the costs for a standard letter rise by almost twelve percent - from 85 to 95 percent. The prices for postcards even rise by a whopping 35 percent (!!!) - from 70 cents to 95 cents. Pretty crazy! The prices for parcels and packets are also skyrocketing (for example, a packet S will cost 4.19 euros from 2025 instead of 3.99 euros previously). The only good news from the post office is: Parcels can only be taken to the nearest deposit point by the delivery person if you are not at home. However, we predict that more emails will probably be written again.

Yes, even if we sometimes get a shock when another bill comes in - it will be even bigger in 2025! Apart from food, rent and the like, many other things are also becoming more expensive. For example, car insurance: Because the costs of repairs have risen as a result of inflation, premiums are rising massively - by up to twenty percent! It is therefore worth comparing prices, because if prices rise, you as a consumer have a special right of termination.

We will also have to pay immensely more when it comes to electricity from 2025. The price increase there is a proud seventy percent! A kilowatt hour then costs 3.15 cents. The price of gas also increases by around 27 percent.

The additional contribution from health insurance companies will also be increased. While the average was previously 1.7 percent, it will be increased to an average of 2.5 percent at the turn of the year. Here, too, you still have a special right of termination in the event of an increase. The contribution to nursing care insurance will also be increased by 0.2 percent. This is to prevent the nursing care insurance from becoming insolvent. It's already that far...

The minimum wage - that is, what all employees in Germany must earn at least per hour - will rise from 12.41 to 12.81 euros gross per hour from January 1st - this also applies to mini-jobbers. As rents continue to rise, housing benefit is also being increased slightly, although in most cases it is still not enough. From January 1st, those in need will receive thirty euros more per month. In addition, if the Bundestag and the Bundesrat agree by the end of the year, parents will receive five euros more in child benefit from 2025 - which, given the other price increases, is probably just a drop in the ocean.