A senior health official is proposing a significant reform to the structure of Germany’s statutory health insurance system (GKV) in an effort to curb rising costs. Tino Sorge, State Secretary for Health from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has suggested introducing a tiered system where insured individuals receive a considerably more affordable base tariff and can then select supplementary services as needed.
Speaking to “Bild” newspaper, Sorge stated that continuous increases in contributions are not a sustainable solution. The proposed model would allow health insurance funds (Kassen) to offer a range of tailored tariffs. These would include a competitively priced base tariff providing core medical coverage, alongside additional packages that individuals can opt into based on their specific requirements. Importantly, Sorge emphasized that no individual’s level of insurance coverage would be diminished.
He cited the cost of eyeglasses as an example of a potential add-on service that could be included in a supplementary package. The proposal also encompasses the introduction of a primary care physician model, incentivizing patients to commit to a particular doctor through financial benefits, which could further contribute to lower tariffs.
The plans are slated for discussion with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in the coming weeks, as policymakers explore ways to address the ongoing debate regarding healthcare costs and accessibility within the GKV system.