Financial development in the GKV

02.02.2010 14:14

Several statutory health insurance funds have announced that they will collect additional contributions from their insured persons in the future.

It is expected that almost all statutory health insurance companies will charge an additional contribution by the end of 2010. This is what health economists and other experts expect. At the press conference with health insurance executives, politicians, scientists and patient representatives, health scientist Professor Günter Neubauer from the Munich Institute for Health Economics emphasized: “Additional contributions are a legally anchored and politically desired pillar for financing health care in Germany.

In 2010 there will be an underfinancing of the health fund of four billion euros. The financial architecture of the fund set up by the legislature means that most health insurance companies will not be able to avoid additional contributions in the course of 2010. Many health insurance companies will be making decisions for additional contributions in the next few weeks and months. These will also include health insurance companies that are particularly powerful and are characterized by innovative care concepts and above-average service.

Wolfram-Arnim Candidus from the German Society for Insured Persons and Patients (DGVP) eV called on insured persons not to switch health insurance companies too quickly. “The additional contributions are unavoidable due to previous political decisions and will not solve the problems of the healthcare system. At this point in time, however, I cannot recommend that any insured person change their health insurance provider due to an additional contribution, as this will neither improve their supply situation nor know whether they will get a better deal.”