The GKV-Spitzenverband has maintained its lawsuit against the federal government concerning the substantial healthcare costs incurred for recipients of basic social security benefits. Oliver Blatt, the association’s chairman, told the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers (Saturday editions) that they are talking about “over ten billion euros per year that are still missing.”
While the association views positively the move toward a higher level of federal participation in resolving this issue, they simultaneously point out that necessary federal contributions have been cut elsewhere. “This is unfair. That is why we are maintaining the lawsuit,” Blatt added.
The statutory health insurance funds criticize needing to cover such a significant portion of the healthcare expenditures for these benefit recipients. The association argues that this is a collective societal responsibility and its financing should not be placed solely on those contributing premiums. Seventy-nine health insurance funds filed the case, and the legal justifications were submitted to the court in February.
The GKV Contribution Rate Stabilization Act provides for a gradual increase in the federal share dedicated to Grundsicherung recipients. However, it stipulates that starting in 2031, the federal government will pay two billion euros more annually than in 2026, concurrently with a reduction in the regular federal subsidy to the Health Fund.
Blatt is therefore demanding that the federal government fully assume these costs. He stated that although the health insurance providers organize the care, if the federal government does not fully fund the expenses, “premium payers are left with around ten billion euros in expenditure for a state public service task.” Consequently, the association demands that the federal government reimburse the full amount.
