Members of the statutory health insurance funds will be facing higher contributions next year. Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) announced that the average additional contribution should increase by 0.3 percentage points. This is expected to bring in between 4.8 and 5 billion euros. The contribution increase should be part of a package of measures to cover a deficit of 17 billion euros. There will be no cuts in performance. An increased tax subsidy of two billion euros and a federal loan of one billion euros should also help to cover the deficit. There are still reserves in both the health fund and the individual health insurance companies.
One is in a “really difficult situation”, according to Lauterbach. “There are still about four billion reserves in the coffers that we can and will use.” The fund is worth 2.4 billion euros. The pharmaceutical industry should contribute one billion “If you use these reserves and broaden the revenue base (…) a little more than 14 billion of the 17 billion are already covered,” said Lauterbach. Around three billion euros would be raised from efficiency improvements. According to Lauterbach, a solidarity levy for the pharmaceutical industry should be emphasized here, which has recently been able to record considerable increases in sales. A one-off levy of one billion euros is being targeted. The average additional contribution will be finally determined by an official group of appraisers in autumn.
This year, the coffers will already receive an increased federal subsidy of 28.5 billion euros. The average additional contribution should therefore be kept at 1.3 percent for the time being. The health insurers themselves determine the specific amount of their respective additional contribution. The total contribution also includes the general rate of 14.6 percent of gross wages.
Lauterbach criticized his predecessor Jens Spahn (CDU). “The federal government found the finances of the statutory health insurance companies in a very difficult state,” said the SPD politician, speaking of a historic deficit. “I essentially inherited this deficit from my predecessor.” Lauterbach said that Spahn had made “expensive performance reforms” and refrained from structural reforms. This is how the deficit came about during the pandemic. In the meantime, structural reforms have started – for example in the clinic area.
At the beginning of the month, the central association of statutory health insurance companies (GKV) attributed the expected deficit of billions for 2023 to political decisions, among other things. Laws for more nursing staff or shorter waiting times at the doctor’s alone led to permanent additional costs of five billion euros per year. Doris Pfeiffer, head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, said: “The key points presented today will at best give statutory health insurance a financial respite.” The depletion of reserves is “not a solid and sustainable financing”.
Strong criticism also came from employers. The cornerstones are disappointing and would amount to a sleight of hand, said the chief executive of the employers’ association BDA, Steffen Kampeter. According to Lauterbach, one reason for the precarious financial situation in health insurance is that a 14 billion euro tax subsidy will no longer be available as planned. Nevertheless, and despite economic uncertainties, the deficit will probably not get any larger than previously assumed. “I don’t expect any more bad news,” Lauterbach said.
The FDP in the Bundestag announced a thorough examination of the plans. “It is helpful for the upcoming discussion about GKV financing that the Minister of Health has put his ideas on the table,” said parliamentary group leader Lukas Köhler. Now advice is being given on “what can be implemented and where there is still room for improvement”. The Greens insist on structural reforms. Green MEP Paula Piechotta said: “After we spent a lot of money on health during the pandemic and many made good money from it – money that wasn’t always well spent – we now have to make our healthcare system better and more efficient to make up for the deficit down again for the next few years.” In the crisis, strong shoulders would also have to carry more.