fFor the more than 57 million members of statutory health insurance (GKV), the additional contribution is to increase significantly in the coming year. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) announced on Tuesday in Berlin that the additional contribution would be increased by 0.3 percentage points. The average additional contribution is currently 1.3 percent. Together with the general contribution rate of currently 14.6 percent, 16.2 percent of the gross salary would have to be paid for health insurance.
The reason for the move is that healthcare finances are getting out of hand. The statutory health insurance companies will be short of at least 17 billion euros in 2023, as Lauterbach explained. During the Corona years 2020 to 2022, the federal government further increased its already high tax subsidies to the statutory health insurance of 14.5 billion euros annually, almost doubling this year.
According to Lauterbach, the federal subsidy should now increase again by 2 billion euros. In addition, the statutory health insurance companies – similar to the long-term care insurance – should take out a loan of 1 billion euros from the federal government.
These three measures broadened the revenue base, Lauterbach said. The cash registers should also continue to reduce their reserves. Lauterbach’s proposals are now being coordinated with the other ministries.
