The Union Health Insurance Funds (IKK) are calling for comprehensive structural reforms within the statutory health insurance system (GKV). According to Hans-Jürgen Müller, Chairman of the IKK e.V., while recent political steps, such as the GKV Contribution Rate Stabilization Law, serve as an important signal, they are merely a preliminary measure toward a sustainable reorganization of healthcare financing. He pointed out that GKV expenditures have been growing faster than revenue for years, and non-insurance related services are still not entirely covered by tax revenues.
Müller expressed deep concern that rising contribution rates pose a major challenge for most GKV insured individuals. He cited calculations from the Federal Ministry of Health showing that hospitals and care funds will face a shortfall of around 30 billion euros by 2027. To maintain current supplementary contribution levels, savings of 18.8 billion euros will be required next year. Müller strongly criticized the situation, arguing that particularly cost-intensive sectors, notably hospitals and pharmaceutical supply, are not contributing sufficiently to the necessary cost reductions. He stressed that “anyone seeking stability must also take consistent measures in areas where costs are growing fastest.”
The IKK presented three core reform directions: ensuring reliable tax financing for non-insurance related services, broadening the GKV’s financial base, and enforcing consistent cost management. Hans Peter Wollseifer, also Chairman of the IKK e.V., emphasized the critical importance of contribution fairness and the potential economic fallout for businesses and employees. He warned that “increasing health insurance contributions are not just a problem for the insured, but also for their employers and businesses.” Furthermore, he demanded that non-insurance related services be fully covered by tax revenues to prevent further burdening of labor costs.
