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Health cards: reserves used up
Photo: Jens Kalaene / dpa
According to their central association, the statutory health insurance companies are threatened with a funding gap of billions.
The reason is that all reserves are used up during the corona pandemic, as the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds in Berlin made clear.
The chairwoman of the association, Doris Pfeiffer, said: "For this year I am still optimistic that the additional contribution rates will not have to be increased any further."
Also because of the corona consequences, the coffers slipped deeper into the red last year.
Overall, according to information from Tuesday, a deficit of 2.65 billion euros was reported.
In 2019, the minus was 1.5 billion euros.
The health fund, as a money collection and distribution point for the cash registers, now had a deficit of 3.49 billion euros.
Pfeiffer said: "From the resident doctors to the clinics to midwives and medicine providers, the expenditure rose in some cases significantly." The fact that the additional contribution rates do not have to be increased further this year will primarily be made possible by the further reduction in the reserves of the health insurance companies.
"There are major financial challenges facing the coming year," announced Pfeiffer.
A billion federal subsidy in the pandemic is planned as a one-time injection of money.
The reserves of the health insurance funds and the health fund would for the most part be used up this year.
Pfeiffer called on the government to plan a permanently increased federal subsidy in the budget consultations.
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mik / dpa-AFX
