For the first time since 2015, the statutory health insurance (GVK) has closed a budget year with deficits. In total, the deficit for the year 2019 amounts to about 1.5 billion euros, whereby all types of health insurance are affected, with the exception of agricultural health insurance. With a deficit of 859 million euros, the TK, DAK-Gesundheit, Barmer and other substitute insurers are hit hardest. The AOK recorded a deficit of 121 million euros and the miners‘ insurance 58 million euros. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the reasons for the deficits are said to be, among other things, the increased expenditure on services. For example, costs for hospital treatment rose by an estimated 3.9 percent. An increase of 5.6 percent in the cost of drugs was also recorded. With regard to the remuneration of contract physicians, expenditure rose in particular for specialised outpatient palliative care. As a result of the legally prescribed fee increases since 2019, expenditure on therapeutic products also rose by 15.1 percent.
Doris Pfeiffer, head of the GKV-Spitzenverband, sees this development critically, as even higher costs are to be expected this year due to legal changes such as the Appointment Service and Care Act and the Nursing Staff Reinforcement Act. The coronavirus is also causing increased expenditure on services. Federal Health Minister Spahn welcomes this trend, however, as the reduction of financial reserves ultimately means that the insured will benefit from low additional contributions.
