A leading figure in Germany’s largest health insurance fund, Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), has cautioned about a potential significant rise in health insurance contributions. Jens Baas, CEO of TK, warned in an interview with “Die Zeit” that contribution rates could climb to 20 percent of gross salaries by the end of the decade if substantial reform is not initiated. He stated that currently contributions already exceed 17 percent and sees no immediate halt to the upward trend.
Baas expressed concerns that further increases in spending will necessitate another round of contribution adjustments for insured individuals at the next annual review. He dismissed the proposal for federal loans to address the funding gap, arguing that such interventions merely indicate the underlying system’s unsustainability. “We don’t need loans, but real solutions” he emphasized.
The TK CEO criticized the governmental approach of deferring to a commission tasked with presenting reform proposals in 2027. He deemed this timeframe unacceptable given the escalating costs. To mitigate the situation, Baas advocated for specific measures, including the federal government assuming responsibility for healthcare costs associated with citizens receiving welfare benefits, an increase in the manufacturer’s discount on pharmaceuticals and the rigorous implementation of planned hospital reforms.