The German Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband) has voiced strong opposition to proposals for reducing the number of statutory health insurance providers in Germany. Oliver Blatt, CEO of the GKV-Spitzenverband, criticized the discussion as a distraction from the substantive financial challenges facing the statutory health insurance system, characterizing it as a “typical summer lull debate.
Blatt highlighted the existing competition amongst statutory health insurance providers, noting that the number has already significantly decreased from 420 in 2000 to the current 94. This competition, he argues, has driven down administrative costs to approximately one-third of those incurred by private health insurance companies. He emphasized that administrative expenses primarily relate to personnel supporting the daily needs of the 75 million insured individuals through physical offices, digital platforms and telephone services.
Blatt dismissed claims that consolidating health insurance providers would generate substantial savings, asserting they would be minimal and insufficient to offset the annual increases in healthcare service costs.
The remarks came in response to statements made by Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken (CDU), who, in interviews with the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, had suggested the possibility of reducing the number of statutory health insurance providers. While acknowledging that a reduction might be feasible without compromising the system’s functionality, Minister Warken also conceded that the savings would be relatively small. She further stated that citizens generally value a streamlining of administrative expenses, regardless of the number of insurance providers.