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Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) has just met with the heads of the statutory health insurance funds to discuss unavoidable subsidies, in response to warnings of an imminent cost explosion. Spahn’s meeting with the insurers was held via telephone conference in times of crisis. The heads of the health insurance companies expect deficits of 14.1 to 14.6 billion euros for 2020, after a drop in the health insurance companies, which is why demands for federal subsidies from taxes or an increase in additional contributions from the current average of 1.1 to at least 2.0 to 2.2 percent are inevitable. The unemployment figures and the hospital deficits generated are not even included in this calculation. The health insurance companies have formed reserves that fall below 20 billion euros. In addition, there are reserves of 10 billion euros from the health fund, which could be used up by the end of this year, according to the GKV. It is therefore not possible at present to make a realistic assessment, but warnings such as those of health economist Dr. Wolfgang Greiner, who is a member of the Council of Experts in the BMG, cannot be ignored either. According to calculations, coronavirus-related expenditures are not even very high; they are currently estimated at between 500 million and one billion euros. However, these calculations also include savings due to the shutdown of the health care system in March and April 2020, which means that, all in all, expenditure on SARS-CoV-2 infections will be higher with at least 200,000 cases treated this year. Health insurers expect 1.3 billion euros. Added to this are additional costs of 3.3 billion euros for the nursing care fees of the hospitals, 1.6 billion euros for an estimated 20 million corona tests and 1.1 to 1.2 billion euros for the ordered waiver of audits of hospital bills. The circle of estimators is also worried about the financial consequences of the many health reforms that Spahn has initiated. In addition to the expenditure for the Corona crisis, which is, however, only estimated at six billion euros, there are a further six billion euros which were generated by losses from the additional contributions which were set far too low. According to estimates, these should have been increased by 0.3 percentage points long ago. The current average additional contribution must, therefore, be regarded as too low. Two billion euros in losses are also caused by 2.5 million short-time work recipients and an additional 500,000 people with unemployment. Deferred contributions for companies and the self-employed of 1.3 billion euros, who may not be able to make repayments due to company bankruptcies, must be added to the already high level of expenditure. Erwin Rüddel, chairman of the health committee in the Bundestag, is not only calling for the whole thing to be carried out on the back of the insured through increased contribution payments but is also proposing that it be financed by tax money.

Source: www.apotheke-adhoc.de