German Health Insurance Contributions Could Reach 20% Without Reforms

The head of Germany's largest health insurer warns of steep increases in premiums by the end of the decade unless systemic changes are implemented.

Jens Baas, CEO of Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), predicts health insurance contributions could hit 20% by 2030 without government intervention.
Current contributions average 17.5%, with a base rate of 14.6% and an average additional rate of 2.91%, shared equally between employers and employees.
The rise in contributions stems from increasing healthcare costs, including expenditures on hospitals, medications, and physician services, which have surged in recent years.
Baas criticized the lack of political will to implement necessary reforms, describing the system as inefficient and warning of worsening financial burdens for citizens.
Other social contributions, such as those for pensions and unemployment insurance, are also expected to rise, potentially exacerbating inflation and reducing disposable income.