Overview
- Frei said some benefits must be removed to make the system cheaper and called for stronger gatekeeping by primary care doctors.
- Economist Monika Schnitzer backed higher patient cost sharing, proposing a streamlined practice fee collected by insurers.
- Schnitzer warned contribution rates could drift toward 25% and urged scrapping non‑evidence treatments such as homeopathy.
- The GKV umbrella group argued a practice fee would not curb spending, citing a projected €23 billion rise in 2026 outlays to about €370 billion and calling for structural reforms.
- Verivox counts 31 sickness funds announcing higher additional contributions for 2026, as a roughly €2 billion December savings package is judged insufficient.