Bavarian Court Bars Health Card Revocation Over Unpaid Contributions

The Bavarian Landessozialgericht ruled that health insurance providers cannot withdraw or block the electronic health card (eGK) solely because an insured person is in arrears on contributions. The court found no legal basis for such a practice, overturning earlier decisions of the Social Court in Augsburg. While contribution defaults may suspend certain benefit claims, the entitlement to the health card itself remains guaranteed by law. Insurers may still limit services to emergency care, acute conditions, pregnancy, and specific early‑detection examinations, but they must issue the card and cannot replace it with a separate authorization certificate. The decision, issued on 19 May, is not yet final but sets a precedent that the card cannot be used as a lever for payment enforcement.