The Association of Replacement Funds (vdek) has called for a strict alignment of the statutory health insurance (GKV) and social nursing care insurance (SPV) budgets with revenue trends, and for tighter governance of care provision. It also urges that society take on a greater share of the costs for services that lie outside the insurance scope, the association said during a briefing in Berlin on Wednesday.
According to the vdek, GKV spending is projected to reach a record high of about €370 billion in 2026, while the SPV will be burdened with roughly €80 billion.
Ulrike Elsner of the vdek explained that the early‑year hikes in contribution rates had jolted the system. The average supplementary contribution rate now stands at 3.13 percent-double what it was three years ago. Without substantive reforms, a financing gap of more than €10 billion is again expected for 2027. Elsner outlined ten priority demands, among them capping the nursing‑care budget in hospitals and lowering the VAT on pharmaceuticals.
Uwe Klemens, the voluntary chair of the vdek, noted that the SPV is under extreme financial pressure. To keep the 2026 contribution rate stable, additional loans were taken. Nevertheless, a further financing gap of 0.3 contribution‑rate points is anticipated for 2027. He urged policymakers to offset the state loans granted with the existing federal debt owed to the SPV.