Financing gap leads to increasing additional contributions - break the spiral of premium increases!
16.10.2023 16:52
On the occasion of the announcement of the forecast results of the GKV estimation group, consisting of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Office for Social Security and the GKV National Association, Dr. Doris Pfeiffer, Chairwoman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds:
“For the coming year, the GKV estimators expect another financing gap, as the expected expenditure of the health insurance companies for the care of the insured is higher than the expected income. These consist of contributions and additional contributions from the insured and employers, the federal subsidy and a one-off payment from the health fund reserve.
The group of estimators currently assumes a financing gap of around 3.2 billion euros for 2024, which will generally have to be closed through higher additional contributions from health insurance companies.
In order to close this financing gap, an average additional contribution rate of 1.7 percent is required. This will result in relevant pressure for health insurance companies to increase in the coming year, as the additional contribution rate actually charged is currently on average 1.51 percent.”
Break the spiral of premium increases!
“The spiral of premium increases that has been going on for years must be broken. Increasing additional contributions must not be taken for granted! It is therefore urgent that the legislature sets the course for sustainable financing. What must now be done is that, on the one hand, the federal government finally lives up to its responsibility for tasks for society as a whole that have previously been borne by the health insurance companies, i.e. cost-covering contributions for those receiving citizens' benefit, and dynamizing federal participation in family policy benefits. On the other hand, there is an urgent need for efficiency-improving measures on the expenditure side - there is an urgent need for action, particularly in the case of uneconomic structures. The continued high increase in spending on hospitals, doctors’ fees and pharmaceuticals, to name just the largest areas, must be a warning signal for everyone.”