Overview

• New figures show statutory health insurance benefit spending up 7.95% to €166.1 billion in the first half, with hospital costs rising 9.6% to €54.5 billion, physician payments up 7.8% and pharmaceuticals up 6%.
• Despite a €2.8 billion H1 surplus, the funds’ reserves are only €4.6 billion—about 0.16 months of outlays—and the Health Ministry projects a roughly €4 billion GKV and €2 billion long-term care shortfall in 2026.
• After final budget committee talks, the coalition confirmed there is no additional 2025 cash beyond loans; the planned €2.3 billion loans in 2025 and 2026 are expected to cushion but not avert contribution increases.
• Warken says she will seek measures to avoid January hikes and will convene an expert commission this month to deliver structural reform proposals by spring 2026.
• Insurers and social groups urge an immediate spending moratorium tying price and fee growth to actual revenues, warning the average Zusatzbeitrag could reach about 3% without decisive action.