Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) signaled her willingness to consider changes to the controversial statutory health insurance reform ahead of the first reading of the Contribution Stabilization Act (BStabG) in the Bundestag. Speaking to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group, Warken stated, “If the financing gap is closed, we can talk about many things.”
Despite this openness, the Minister defended central features of the draft legislation. She highlighted the planned adjustments to co-payments and the continuation of free family membership. Warken emphasized that existing load limits for insured participants and chronically ill patients would remain unchanged, thereby preventing excessive burdens. She added that co-payments have not been adjusted in over twenty years.
The CDU politician also upheld the changes concerning family coverage, asserting that the federal government found “a good middle ground” between the proposal from the finance committee and the original departmental draft. Warken concluded that a reform aimed at stabilizing contributions is ultimately far more favorable than facing uncontrolled increases. She stressed that such a major overhaul requires the involvement of insured individuals.
However, Warken simultaneously pointed to further potential savings within the statutory health insurance (GKV). Due to significantly higher-than-expected expenditures, she revealed that the GKV faces a deficit of 3.5 billion euros next year, exceeding earlier assumptions. Consequently, the initial financial buffer has already been depleted. “If we want to achieve contribution stability, we must increase the potential for savings,” she noted.
Regarding demands for greater funding of social aid recipients (Bürgergeld) from the federal budget, Warken referenced the strained state of the national finances. Although the current law represents a first step toward tax financing, she sounded cautious about future possibilities. “If there is room in the budget, we must use it. But right now, I am not very optimistic that it will open up.”
The Minister was responsive to criticism received from several states regarding parts of the reform, particularly in the hospital sector. She conceded that there was need for discussion, adding that “I also see the need to provide more flexibility in other areas for those who now have to make contributions.”
Warken dismissed concerns from the GKV association that raising the contribution assessment ceiling might lead to a large migration of insured people into private health insurance. While acknowledging that switching would still occur, she stated that it would “not be to the extent that the reform’s effect evaporates.” Moreover, the raised annual salary threshold would increase the barriers to switching providers.
The government’s core aim with the reform is to curb rising contribution rates and stabilize the finances of the statutory health insurance system, driven by increasing expenditures and mounting deficits within the health funds.
