The new GKV chairman Oliver Blatt warns of a cost avalanche in statutory health insurance. Without reforms, the additional contribution could increase over three percent in early 2025. Nothing can be felt by Chancellor Merz ‘announced social reforms.
The new head of the top association of the statutory health insurance companies (GKV) is alarm: “Without reforms, the statutory health insurance drives with an announcement against the wall,” Oliver Blatt told the “Handelsblatt” on Tuesday. The expenses rose faster than the income. If politics remains idle, the additional contribution could be over three percent at the beginning of next year.
The additional contribution is currently an average of 2.9 percent. Health insurers are allowed to determine it themselves. The general contribution rate is currently 14.6 percent, both sentences are borne half by employers and employees.
He does not feel anything from the “autumn of social reforms” announced by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), said Blatt: “Health is treated like a C-topic in the Chancellery.” He rejected the accusation of hidden performance cuts. “There is no strategy to shorten services through the back door.” He also rejected a staggering of the contributions to lifestyle: “For example, the many meniscus operations in football cost more than a rare parag lead. Therefore prefer to remain solidarity and work with positive incentives instead of punishments.”
He also considers suggestions such as repayments in the event that people do not go to the doctor in one quarter: “This contradicts the solidarity principle and disadvantages chronically and seriously ill people who need a lot of treatments, but not because they live unhealthy,” he said.
Blatt also sees reform pressure in long -term care insurance. For 2025, thanks to a federal loan, a plus of around 500 million euros are expected. In 2026, despite the help, a deficit of 1.1 billion euros was expected.
KNA/cvb
