German health insurers lose over €500 million in real‑estate fund fallout

Investigations by Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR revealed that more than 500 million euros of contributions from German statutory health insurers and physicians’ associations were invested in two real‑estate funds. Insider information suggests that about 96 % of this capital is likely lost, representing a multi‑hundred‑million‑euro hit to the public health financing system.

In a related legal development, the Munich District Court upheld a private health‑insurance company's claim that a policyholder who reverted to statutory coverage must provide proof of the switch within three months. The court ruled that the individual's delayed submission invalidated the cancellation and made him liable for outstanding premiums of €602.70, reinforcing the statutory deadline for such transitions.

Both cases highlight significant financial and regulatory challenges facing Germany’s health‑insurance sector.