Financial crisis in health insurance: Auditors’ Auditors demands savings

In view of an intensifying financial misery in statutory health insurance, the Federal Audit Office has raised the alarm. In a letter to the Bundestag budget committee, the authority asked for short -term savings. Otherwise, the health insurance contributions would reach a height that could dampen economic growth, according to the report on the AFP news agency on Monday.

“The financial situation of the statutory health insurance (GKV) is heading,” says the document. Last year, the increase in expenditure was the highest of the past 30 years. The gap between revenue and expenses of the health insurance companies is currently growing by six to eight billion euros annually.

The additional contribution could therefore increase to 4.05 percent by 2029. However, the federal government pushes necessary steps “on the long bank”, criticized the auditors. “The reserves of the health insurance companies are consumed and do not ensure sufficient stability.” The news magazine “Politico” initially reported on the authority’s report.

The Court of Auditors in particular complained about a flexibility of politics: “The cause of the increase in expenditure is in particular the abolition of cost -dusting regulations.” There would also be technical progress and further demographic development. An aging population reinforce the structural cover gap, since “in addition to the already growing expenditure with the retirement of the insured persons, lower income can be expected”.

The auditors called for cuts in the system. “From the perspective of the Federal Audit Office, measures must be taken out on the expense side that stabilize the financial situation of the SHI at short notice and include all relevant performance areas, in particular those in which there are currently significant cost increases,” says the paper.

Delays led to further, avoidable expenses, warns the Court of Auditors. This applies “in a special way for hospital reform”, which is currently in the works. Central elements of hospital reform, the increases in efficiency, a relocation to outpatient care and increasing quality, should not be watered down.

The Green Household Expert Paula Piechotta asked the federal government to tackle a non-partisan reform. “This coalition does not have the strength or unity to manage a real reform,” said the MP. “The big shoulder of the democratic parties that have to present a jointly developed reform are needed here so that a solution that is sustainable is found that will not be handled again after the next Bundestag election.”