Health Insurance
Health insurers' chief demands abolition of voluntary services
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Andreas Gassen, chairman of the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung, calls for the complete elimination of voluntary additional services provided by statutory health insurance funds to achieve savings. He estimates the potential savings at nearly one billion euros per year. This comes amid a looming financing gap of twelve billion euros in the statutory health insurance system.
Following coalition negotiations and a December 2025 mediation effort on her stalled savings law, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) received a major boost on Monday as a government-appointed commission of ten scientists presented a 480-page report with 66 reform measures for statutory health insurers in Berlin. The proposals aim to close a projected 15.3 billion euro deficit next year and generate over 40 billion euros in short- to medium-term savings, preventing contribution increases.
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The German federal government plans to eliminate free co-insurance for spouses in statutory health and long-term care insurance. The move aims to plug budget shortfalls at health insurance funds and will make coverage more expensive for many families. Handelsblatt learned of this from coalition sources.
Kenyan teachers have expressed dissatisfaction with the government's move to transfer their health insurance to the Social Health Authority (SHA), decrying a lack of public involvement. The backlash emerged hours after union leaders signed an agreement with the government. At a conference in Mombasa, primary school heads walked out in protest.
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Federal Health Minister Nina Warken aims to prevent higher health insurance contributions from 2026 through cost reductions. The Health Ministry's draft proposes savings on administrative costs and hospital remunerations. Experts still warn of rising contributions.