At the turn of the year: 82 of 94 health insurance companies increase contributions – the burden is growing

Almost all statutory health insurance companies in Germany increased their contributions at the turn of the year. This emerges from a daily updated list from the National Association of Health Insurance Funds (GKV) on the so-called additional contributions, which are set by the insurers themselves.

Accordingly, 82 of the 94 health insurance funds increased this contribution by an average of one percentage point to an average of 2.91 percent of the income subject to contributions, as a comparison with the data on the additional contribution published by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds shortly before the turn of the year shows.

Increase significantly above the official reference value

The value is therefore significantly above the official reference value of 2.5 percent set in November. Experts from the so-called estimator group from the Federal Office for Social Security (BAS), the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds and the Federal Ministry of Health had determined a mathematically necessary contribution rate of 2.5 percent so that the health insurance companies can cover their expenses. However, each health insurance company can decide for itself whether and how much to increase the additional contribution.

The range of increases currently ranges from 0.4 to 2.4 percentage points. Eleven health insurance funds did not increase contributions and there was no reduction in contributions anywhere. There is no data available for a cash register.

Contribution should promote competition between funds

The additional contribution is in addition to the fixed health insurance contribution rate of 14.6 percent that applies to everyone and was once introduced to promote competition between health insurance companies. If a health insurance fund increases the additional contribution, insured persons have a special right of termination and can switch to a cheaper provider.

Less net from gross

The increases not only burden the insured, but also the employers, as they pay half of the contributions. This also applies to the contribution to nursing care insurance, which was also increased at the turn of the year – by 0.2 percentage points. With a gross income of 3,000 euros, an increase in the health insurance contribution of 1 and an increase in the care contribution of 0.2 percentage points means around 18 euros less net per month, or an annual loss of more than 200 euros. At the turn of the year, however, income tax relief also came into force, which means that there is a little more net than gross elsewhere.

Not the last premium increase

The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds assumes that health insurance contributions will continue to rise next year. Association boss Doris Pfeiffer recently criticized the “Rheinische Post” as saying that spending on hospitals and medication would increase “practically unchecked” without improving patient care. Instead of reforming the structures, politicians cleared away the health insurance companies’ reserves. The result is higher contributions.

According to GKV data, health insurance companies spent almost 94 billion euros on hospital treatment in 2023 (2019: 80 billion), 50 billion on medication (2019: 41) and 47 billion on medical treatment (2019: 41).