Health insurance contributions soon more expensive?
DAK boss predicts “contribution tsunami”
Created: 06/20/2022, 1:55 p.m
By: Jasmin Pospiech
In 2023, the statutory health insurance funds will lack more money than previously assumed.
Experts believe that contributors could feel this massively.
Hamburg – It's going to be tough for the Germans: After food and energy prices have risen due to the Ukraine war, there will probably be a further increase in prices in the coming year.
Accordingly, the statutory health insurance contributions could increase.
The reason for this is that the statutory health insurance is said to lack more money in the coffers than previously assumed.
This should be reflected in the wallets of contributors in 2023.
Health insurance contributions soon more expensive?
DAK boss predicts “contribution tsunami”
Will the contributions to statutory health insurance soon be increased?
(Iconic image) © Sascha Steinach/Imago
Previous estimates assume a financial gap of 17 million euros.
But it could be considerably more, as calculations by the Institute for Health Economics available to the "Bild-Zeitung" show.
These assume a minus of a whopping 25 million euros.
After all, according to IfG boss Günther Neubauer, “the war and its consequences have not yet been priced in,” it continues.
According to this, the expenses of clinics and practices are currently skyrocketing due to high inflation.
DAK chairman Andreas Storm also warns of a "contribution tsunami" for those with statutory health insurance.
If you only want to settle the financial gap through contribution payments, increases of up to 537.02 euros per year would apply to top earners and 455.16 euros to average earners.
That's about 38 euros more per month.
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Health insurance contributions soon more expensive?
DAK boss predicts “contribution tsunami”
For this reason, Storm is now calling on Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (59, SPD) to act as quickly as possible.
"Together with the Federal Minister of Finance, Lauterbach must now answer the question of whether and how he intends to prevent the impending tsunami of premiums from the 70 million insured persons," he explains.
But Lauterbach is keeping a low profile while the industry has been waiting for the announced draft law to stabilize the finances of the statutory health insurance funds for several months, Storm continued.
According to this, Lauterbach wants to cushion the increase in contributions with tax money and tax discounts on medicines.
So time is ticking – after all, the health insurance companies are already drawing up their new budget in autumn.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
