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2h ago

GKV Chief Warns Average Surcharge Could Exceed 3% Next Year Without Reforms

He urges a spending cap with state‑mandated costs shifted to the federal budget to contain rising health outlays.

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Die Zahl der sozialversicherungspflichtigen Beschäftigten steigt seit Jahren, damit auch die Krankschreibungen.

Overview

  • Blatt projects the average Zusatzbeitrag rising above 3% at the start of 2026, up from the current 2.9% alongside a 14.6% general rate shared equally by employers and employees.
  • Funds have raised surcharges repeatedly in 2025, including new increases in August, after a €6.2 billion deficit in 2024, and industry leaders call government loan support insufficient.
  • He calls for a legal brake that prevents sickness funds from being required to spend more than they take in.
  • The GKV wants non‑insurance burdens removed, including full state coverage for Bürgergeld recipients, which he says would relieve the funds by about €10 billion as current €133 monthly payments per person do not cover costs.
  • He also backs hospital consolidation with quality‑based minimum volumes and possible closures, and he rejects lifestyle‑based premiums or no‑visit refunds as incompatible with solidarity.