Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has indicated that short-term adjustments to service offerings within Germany’s statutory health insurance system are a potential avenue for controlling rising contribution rates.
Speaking to RTL and ntv broadcasters, Minister Warken confirmed that the government is currently considering a package of measures aimed at stabilizing contributions. She stated that “various options” are being explored that could yield savings in the short term, although concrete actions remain under discussion. Rather, the focus is on establishing a general strategy for addressing the issue.
Warken emphasized the need for increased federal subsidies for health insurance funds, urging Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) to allocate additional funds from the national budget. These funds, she explained, are crucial to bridge the gap until the government’s planned reforms take effect – a process expected to require time. Faced with this timeline, Warken suggested that either increased funding or short-term adjustments to service provision would be necessary.
Regarding a proposal by her parliamentary secretary, Tino Sorge, to introduce a basic health insurance plan with optional add-on services, Warken responded cautiously. She suggested it could be considered within the federal reform commission but stressed that it is not a measure currently being prepared.