Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) presented far-reaching savings plans for statutory health insurance (GKV) at a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday. She intends to implement more than three-quarters of an expert commission's 66 proposals to save 20 billion euros starting next year. The funds currently face a deficit of about 15 billion euros.
The statutory health insurance funds face a deficit of about 15 billion euros this year, which would grow without reforms. Two weeks ago, the Finanzkommission Gesundheit presented 66 proposals on around 500 pages to save billions and prevent contribution increases.
Nina Warken announced plans to implement more than three-quarters of these proposals. "Without this reform, the burden on insured persons and employers would be many times higher," she said at the press conference. "Stop the contribution spiral – we want to put this commitment into action now. All areas must contribute."
A key measure concerns family insurance: From 2028, free co-insurance for spouses will end. Affected individuals must pay 3.5 percent of the insured partner's income, up to about 203 euros monthly. Exceptions apply to parents with children under seven, people with disabilities, caregivers, and retirees.
Warken is pursuing an ambitious timeline: A draft law is to be presented to the cabinet by April 29.
