# Krankengeld-Rechner — legal & calculation model

**Tool:** `krankengeld-rechner`  
**Year:** 2026 (constants reviewed annually)  
**Last updated:** 2026-04-08

## Purpose

Provide an **orientation value** for gesetzlich krankenversicherte **Arbeitnehmer** after the end of **Entgeltfortzahlung** (employer sick pay). This is **not** a replacement for a Krankenkasse decision, payroll, or legal advice.

## Legal basis (reference)

- **SGB V** — Krankengeld: entitlement, calculation, and caps are governed by the statutory health insurance branch. Implementers should cite the current **§§** applicable to *Leistungshöhe* / *Krankengeld* / *Höchstgrenzen* from [Gesetze im Internet](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_5/) in code comments and update when law changes.
- **Entgeltfortzahlung:** Typically **6 weeks** per case of incapacity under **Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz** — the calculator **does not** model employer pay; it models **Krankengeld from the Kasse** thereafter.

## Simplified monthly proxy (implemented in JS)

Official calculation uses **calendar-day** logic and **Regelentgelt** from a lookback period. For UX parity with common online calculators, we use a **monthly equivalent**:

1. **Assessment gross (proxy):** `min(user_monthly_gross, KV_BBG_monthly)`  
   - `KV_BBG_monthly` is aligned with the **Ordio payroll module** health-insurance BBG for **2026** (see `v2/js/krankengeld/constants.js`).  
   - *Rationale:* Contribution assessment ceiling bounds the relevant insured remuneration in many employee cases.

2. **Gross-based component:** `0.70 × assessment_gross_proxy`

3. **Net cap:** `0.90 × user_monthly_net`  
   - User should enter **Netto from a recent payslip** (ongoing employment), not a tax refund month or one-off payments unless they intentionally model that month.  
   - **Optional UI helper:** The tool can **prefill net** via `ordioGermanMonthlyNet.computeMonthlyNetPayroll` (same 2026 Ordio model as Brutto-Netto / Kurzarbeitergeld). That value is a **Schätzung**; the **90 %-Kappung** is still best aligned with **Abrechnungs-Netto**.

4. **Result:** `min(gross_based_component, net_cap)` = **monthly Krankengeld proxy (before member KV/PV on sickness benefit)**.

5. **Daily proxy (informational):** `monthly_result / 30` (calendar-day style simplification).

## Known limitations (must stay visible in UI)

- No **12-month sliding Regelentgelt**; no special rules for **unequal pay**, **overtime/surcharges**, **Minijob**, **multiple jobs**, **private insurance**, **self-employed**, **Übergangsgeld**, **Mutterschaftsgeld** interaction, **Insolvenzgeld**, etc.
- **KV/PV** contributions by the member on Krankengeld reduce **payout in hand** — optional future line item; v1 may mention qualitatively only.
- **Höchstkrankengeld** statutory caps: if a stricter statutory maximum applies below our proxy, the KK pays less — document in FAQ.

## Annual review checklist

- [ ] `KV_BBG_MONTHLY` vs. official **Beitragsbemessungsgrenze** Krankenversicherung (year **N**).  
- [ ] Cross-check one **KK-Rechner** and one **neutral** site for same inputs (smoke test).  
- [ ] Update year labels in PHP meta, JSON-LD, and this file.