As of: March 30, 2024, 7:00 a.m
By: Mark Stoffers
Comments
Press
Split
Another shock for statutory health insurance patients: The head of the DAK, Andreas Storm, expects a further increase in contributions for 2025 in order to plug the billion-dollar holes. © Inderlied/Kirchner-Media/imago
Is there a further increase in health insurance contributions? The DAK boss expects this in order to plug the billion-dollar holes in health and nursing care insurance.
Hamburg – Will the next shock for statutory health insurance patients come in the election year of 2025? If the CEO of the health insurance company DAK-Gesundheit, Andreas Storm, has his way, the health insurance contributions for contributors could rise drastically again after 2024. According to him, the billion-dollar holes in health and nursing care insurance are responsible for the expected increase next year.
Health insurance contributions will probably rise in 2025: increase in contributions for health and nursing care insurance
“We have to expect a premium increase of 0.5 percentage points for health insurance at the beginning of 2025 and 0.2 points for nursing care insurance,” Storm told the
editorial network Germany (RND)
on Friday (March 29). The head of the third largest statutory health insurance company said the reason for the likely increase in health insurance contributions in 2025 was that there was a stronger spending dynamic in both social insurance companies than previously expected.
There will be a deficit of up to 2.5 billion euros in health insurance by the end of the year. That is a “very conservative estimate”. Contrary to what Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) promised, long-term care insurance will also not make ends meet with the premium income, but will instead end up in the red.
Health insurance contributions will rise significantly in 2025: “This will result in a hefty increase in social security contributions”
“Actually, governments always try to keep contributions stable in an election year. But this time it comes down to hefty increases in social security contributions,” the head of the fund told the
RND
with regard to a possible increase in health insurance contributions in 2025
.
If this happens, it would be the third increase in health insurance contributions in three years. After all, contributions for health and nursing care insurance have already increased in 2023 and 2024. If the forecast of a further increase in health insurance contributions for 2025 is correct, “there will be an increase of at least 1.5 percentage points over the entire electoral period,” the former CDU politician showed the development of contributions for health insurance patients.
Increase in health insurance contributions in 2025: With a gross income of 3,500 euros, 150 euros more per year
If health insurance contributions rise again, with an increase of 0.7 percent for health and care in a sample calculation with a gross income of 3,500 euros per month, employees will incur additional costs of around 150 euros.
My news
Meloni takes action: Italy cancels the “super bonus” read
After rocket attacks on Ukraine, Poland launches fighter jets in the middle of the night
NATO fighter jets rise: Russian planes intercepted over the Baltic Sea
Europe wants to invest massively in nuclear power – the Greens react calmly: “Our energy supply is secure” read
Cheese recall: Federal Office warns of health risks – according to the RKI, three groups are particularly susceptible to focus reading
Wages instead of citizens' money: Jobcenter starts unusual reading campaign
The outcry from the population about the next possible increase in health insurance contributions could be great, but according to Storm, that does little to change the reality. If developments in the current situation continue unabated, the health insurance companies would only have reserves of 5.5 billion euros at the turn of the year 2024/2025. This in turn just corresponds to the level of the legally required minimum reserve.
“Classic own goal of the traffic light”: Automatic increase in nursing care insurance contributions
“This hasn't happened since the introduction of the health fund 15 years ago,” says Storm at the
RND
, putting the situation of the health insurance companies in context and continues: “The health insurance companies are riding on the rim.” That is fatal, after all, there always has to be enough Provide reserves in order to be able to cope with possible crisis situations. Smaller health insurance companies in particular would then no longer be able to do this. At least three health insurance companies were able to reduce the additional contributions in 2024. But that will probably end in 2025.
Storm also expects nursing care insurance to fall below the statutory minimum reserve by the end of the year. Then a contribution increase is automatically necessary due to a new regulation in the last care reform. Lauterbach obviously didn’t see that coming. “This is a classic traffic light own goal,” complains the DAK boss.
Lauterbach plan criticized: “It can’t be that the privately insured people are out”
In addition, the head of the DAK's cash register warned Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) against burdening the health insurance companies with new additional expenses. A particular thorn in Storm's side is the minister's plan to promote the creation of additional medical study places with funds from statutory health insurance amounting to up to 660 million euros per year. This is a task for society as a whole that must be paid for with tax revenue, demanded Storm.
This also applies to the minister's plan to support the restructuring of the hospital landscape with 2.5 billion euros annually from health insurance funds. “This is a fall from grace for the solidarity-based financing of the health system. It can't be the case that those with statutory health insurance are burdened one-sidedly and those with private insurance are left out," he complained and added in an interview with the
RND
: "This is a classic redistribution from bottom to top, which I would not have believed a social democratic health minister could do .”