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The rapid increase in healthcare costs alarms many. Representatives of the health insurance companies targeted those receiving citizens’ benefit. But pensioners also seem to be costing the funds considerably.
Berlin – Health insurance contributions for those with statutory and private insurance are becoming more expensive. The majority of private health insurers (PKV) want to increase premiums by an average of 18 percent on January 1, 2025. Those insured by statutory health insurance companies are also threatened with a premium shock.
Some fund managers have, among other things, blamed the traffic lights for this: the costs of the statutory funds through recipients of citizens’ money are only partially covered – the contributors have to bear the burden. Now comes the hint that the problem also applies to another group.
Health insurance contributions are exploding – because of citizen’s benefit costs?
First, a brief overview: In 2022, statutory health insurance expenditure for citizens’ benefit recipients was 9.2 billion euros higher than the contributions paid by the federal government. Against this background, there has recently been criticism that the traffic light has not financed “higher contributions for those receiving unemployment benefit II from tax revenue” as promised in the coalition agreement. The previous state transfers are not enough, the GVK noted.
A large proportion of retired civil servants worked for the state during their working lives (symbolic image). © Jan Woitas/dpa
According to DAK boss Andreas Storm, the statutory health insurance companies for citizens’ benefit recipients each receive around 120 euros a month from tax revenue. “This is demonstrably not cost-effective. If, on the other hand, a privately insured person becomes a recipient of citizen’s benefit, the state pays the insurance company 420 euros per month in the basic tariff. That’s three and a half times as much,” Storm said in June.
Anger over rising health insurance contributions: “The contributions of pensioners do not cover costs either”
In an interview with the Welt Florian Reuther, director of the Association of Private Health Insurance, is targeting another group. “The health insurance companies demand government subsidies that completely cover the health costs. However, this does not fit with the solidarity principle of the GKV, because the amount of contributions of a GKV insured person is not based on the individual costs,” says Reuther. “For example, pensioners’ contributions do not cover costs.”
In principle, the general contribution rate of 14.6 percent applies to pensioners with statutory health insurance. The statutory pension insurance covers half of the health insurance contribution and half of the additional contribution through the pensioners’ health insurance (KVdR). The pensioner must pay the full contribution to statutory nursing care insurance.
Pensioners are already having a hard time – and not just because of the difficult financial situation in the healthcare system and rising health insurance contributions. “We have a weak income and high expenses,” admitted Health Minister Karls Lauterbach (SPD) as the main problem. Also Social security contributions will rise again next yearespecially for high earners who will have less money available at the end of the month due to the increased contribution assessment limit.
Care benefits: According to the report, many pensioners do not need additional supplements
According to a report commissioned by private health insurance (PKV) and carried out by the German Economic Institute, long-term care insurance can be managed for the majority of insured people without additional, new surcharges. According to this, more than 70 percent of households of retirement age in Germany can afford inpatient care for several years. Households aged 66 and over in Germany would have an average net worth of just under 320,000 euros (including real estate assets).
