In view of a billion-dollar hole in the health insurance companies, they will receive additional money from the federal government next year.
The insured must also be prepared for slightly increasing contributions. This provides for a financial package from Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), which after the Bundestag this Friday also passed the Bundesrat.
The “Act on the Financial Stabilization of Statutory Health Insurance” is intended to compensate for a deficit of 17 billion euros expected for 2023. The gap in coverage is of historic proportions, Lauterbach said in the Federal Council. He justified the development with the pandemic, demographic change and medical progress.
Among other things, his law provides for a reduction in financial reserves at the cash registers and an increase in the usual federal subsidy of 14.5 billion euros to the cash registers. Drug manufacturers and pharmacies are also to be used with higher deductions. For the insured, the health insurance contributions – currently an average of 15.9 percent – will probably be increased by 0.3 points to an average of 16.2 percent.
The total contribution rate consists of the general rate and a so-called additional contribution, which currently averages 1.3 percent. The specific amount of this additional contribution – which is what this increase is about – is ultimately determined by the health insurance companies themselves. How many more insured persons will have to pay in the coming year depends on their respective health insurance company. Half of the contributions are paid by employers and employees.
