German Court Rejects Opposition Eilanträge, Clearing Path for GKV Savings Law

The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe dismissed two emergency applications filed by Green and Left parliamentarians against the government’s health‑insurance savings package, the GKV‑Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz. The court’s decision removes the last legal obstacle, allowing the Bundestag to vote on the law on Friday and, thereafter, the Bundesrat to give final approval.

The reform, drafted by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU), aims to curb rapidly rising statutory health‑insurance expenditures by limiting fee increases for doctors, clinics and the pharmaceutical industry, raising co‑payments for medicines, restricting free family‑member coverage and cutting the federal subsidy to the GKV. The coalition (CDU/CSU + SPD) argues the package is essential to avoid a “system collapse” and to demonstrate governmental hand‑ability before the summer recess.

Opposition parties (Greens, Left, AfD) criticised the rushed procedure, calling it “chaotic” and “stümperhaft”. Green party chief Felix Banaszak warned, “Kurzfristig erreichten uns Änderungen auf 278 Seiten … das ist nicht nur stümperhaft und unprofessionell, das ist eine grobe Missachtung unserer parlamentarischen Arbeit.” Chancellor Friedrich Merz responded, “Wir werden diesen Weg gehen, auch wenn Sie mit allen Mitteln versuchen, das bis morgen zu verhindern.”

Medical associations, the Federal Psychotherapists’ Chamber and the Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD) warned that the law would increase out‑of‑pocket costs for patients and could strain hospital and psychotherapeutic services. With the court’s ruling, the controversial reform is set to become law unless the Bundesrat intervenes.