Current budget debate: no evidence of political support

02.02.2010 14:55

vdek warns: Additional contributions can no longer be avoided in the GKV

In view of the budget debate in the Bundestag, the chairman of the board of the Association of Replacement Funds e. V. (vdek), Thomas Ballast: “Federal Health Minister Dr. Philipp Rösler said it clearly. There is no way around additional contributions. The insured must prepare for this. But even if the previous government is responsible for this situation, the new federal government should not stand idly by and allow additional contributions to become a reality across the board.”

While previously the contribution rates in the GKV were increased if the expenses in the GKV exceeded the income, now - in the logic of the health fund - if there is insufficient income in the fund, the insured alone have to plug the hole with additional contributions. In total, a financing gap of four billion euros will have to be covered by additional contributions - despite tax subsidies of 3.9 billion euros. The additional contribution required for the GKV amounts to an average of 6.50 euros per member per month.

“Additional contributions will therefore not be isolated cases, but will affect most health insurance funds sooner or later,” explained the vdek board chairman. Ballast emphasized that this current financial situation was caused by incorrect political decisions in the past. In 2009, the previous government unnecessarily reduced the general contribution rate from 15.5 to 14.9 contribution rate points as part of the economic stimulus package II. The additional tax subsidy of 3.9 billion euros helps the coffers, but is not sufficient.

Additional contributions were politically desired. The previous government also did nothing to counteract the unbridled development of spending. In view of the economic crisis, which, according to economic experts, will also have an impact on the labor market in 2010, the increase in spending should now be slowed down. Possible measures would be, for example, a price moratorium for medicines, the introduction of price negotiations before the market launch of new medicines (4th hurdle) or a reduced VAT rate for medicines.

Together, this would bring around 4.5 billion euros into the coffers. “We also need better cost control in the system through intelligent contract options for health insurance companies,” said Ballast. The chairman of the board emphasized that additional contributions were politically desired and were not an indication of inefficiency of the coffers. The health insurance companies have done a lot to avoid additional burdens through mergers, better cost management and restructuring. “Due to the budget situation, many health insurance companies will probably not be able to avoid the additional contribution.”