The head of Germany’s Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), Jens Baas, has advocated for a significant reduction in the number of statutory health insurance providers. In a recent interview with the POLITICO Berlin Playbook podcast, Baas suggested that the current system, boasting nearly 100 providers, is unnecessarily complex, particularly when considering its evolution from over 1,000 organizations. He proposed a more streamlined landscape with between 30 and 40 providers would be sufficient, emphasizing the importance of consumer choice – which he believes could be maintained with a selection of 10 to 20 insurers. He further suggested the inclusion of smaller, regionally focused, or company-affiliated providers within this structure.
Baas’ comments echo concerns previously raised by Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek, who cited the burden of high social security contributions on both the population and the economy. Baas acknowledged the increasing wage-related costs and stressed the need for urgent action.
However, he cautioned against expectations of substantial savings through consolidation. Baas stated that reducing the number of health insurers wouldn’t necessarily lead to major cost reductions, as the primary savings would only pertain to administrative overhead – a relatively small portion of overall spending. He strongly dismissed the notion of performance cuts (“Leistungskürzungen”) as an appropriate solution, asserting that the current statutory health insurance system provides comprehensive coverage of essential services and that further reductions would be difficult to justify. He referenced existing constraints on benefits related to eyewear and dental care, indicating limited scope for further cuts to performance.