Health insurance companies are becoming more expensive: Lauterbach sees a “historic” deficit – and accuses Spahn

Created: 06/28/2022, 15:12

By: Florian Naumann

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach on Tuesday at his press conference on the situation of health insurance companies.

© Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Increasing expenditure is a burden on health insurance companies - and the federal government does not want to compensate for everything from tax revenue.

Now comes a new leap in costs for the insured.

Berlin – Many Germans will have to pay more for their health insurance from 2023: The additional contributions from statutory health insurance companies are expected to increase by 0.3 percentage points in the coming year.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) announced this on Tuesday in Berlin.

Lauterbach justified the step with an impending massive deficit in health insurance.

The traffic light minister spoke of a financial deficit of 17 billion euros.

The contribution increase is expected to bring in between 4.8 and 5 billion euros.

There will be no cuts in performance.

Lauterbach announced higher health insurance contributions – and other grants

An increased tax subsidy of 2 billion euros and a federal loan of 1 billion euros should also help to cover the deficit.

In addition, other reserves would have to be addressed - such reserves are still available both in the health fund and in the individual health insurance funds.

The average additional contribution will be finally determined by an official group of appraisers in autumn.

Lauterbach announced that he had long negotiated with Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) about the planned financing of the billion-dollar gap in health insurance.

He stands behind Lindner's goals that the debt brake should not be violated and taxes should not be increased.

Statutory health insurance is becoming more expensive: Lauterbach accuses Spahn - Greens tease the FDP

Lauterbach criticized his predecessor Jens Spahn (CDU).

"The federal government found the finances of the statutory health insurance companies in a very difficult state," said the SPD politician.

He spoke of a historical deficit.

"I essentially inherited this deficit from my predecessor." Lauterbach said he made "expensive benefit reforms" and refrained from structural reforms.

This is how the deficit came about during the pandemic.

The Green health politician Paula Piechotta defended the step on Twitter - but also made a demand and teased the coalition partner FDP.

"After we spent a lot of money on health during the pandemic and many here earned good money, the strong players in the healthcare sector must now do their part to financially stabilize the healthcare system," she explained.

Because of the debt brake demanded by the FDP, there is little scope for subsidies from the federal budget.

Now it must be ensured that the money flows into care, prevention and good working conditions.

Lindner and the Greens were also in public conflict on another issue on Tuesday: it was about the EU vote on a possible end for new combustion cars from 2035. (

)