German Health Insurers Report Over €1 Billion Patient Out‑of‑Pocket Costs for Medical Aids in 2025
The GKV‑Spitzenverband’s 2025 report shows that statutory health insurers in Germany supplied roughly 32 million medical aids (Hilfsmittel), a 0.5 % rise from the previous year. Total spending on these aids reached €12.1 billion, about 5 % higher than in 2024.
Patients incurred additional costs (Mehrkosten) in 22.31 % of cases, amounting to €1.13 billion – an 8.8 % increase year‑on‑year. The average out‑of‑pocket contribution rose to €158.61 per case, up from €148.70 in 2024. Hearing‑aid devices (product group 13) alone accounted for 976 368 cases, with 420 477 cases (43.07 %) involving Mehrkosten and an average extra cost of €1 656.99, the highest of all 39 product groups.
Overall, patients paid more than €1.1 billion out of their own pockets for medical aids in 2025, roughly €92 million more than in 2024 – a seven‑percent rise. The most frequent extra‑cost selections were for shoe insoles, with about 2.6 million cases representing nearly 36 % of all Mehrkosten instances.
Entities: GKV‑Spitzenverband · German statutory health insurance (GKV) · Oliver Blatt
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Additional patient costs (Mehrkosten) occurred in 22.31 % of medical‑aid cases in 2025, up from 21.97 % in 2024. (GKV‑Spitzenverband report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The average out‑of‑pocket Mehrkosten per case was €158.61 in 2025, up from €148.70 in 2024. (GKV‑Spitzenverband report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Hearing‑aid devices (product group 13) recorded 976 368 cases in 2025, with 420 477 cases (43.07 %) involving Mehrkosten; average extra cost per hearing‑aid case was €1 656.99, the highest among all ‑ (GKV‑Spitzenverband report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Total Mehrkosten amounted to €1.13 billion in 2025, an 8.8 % increase over the previous year. (GKV‑Spitzenverband report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The most common Mehrkosten were for shoe insoles, with about 2.6 million cases, representing nearly 36 % of all extra‑cost instances. (GKV‑Spitzenverband report)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Patients paid over €1.1 billion out‑of‑pocket for medical aids in 2025, about €92 million more than in 2024 (≈7 % increase). (GKV‑Spitzenverband report)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Approximately 32 million medical‑aid cases were recorded in 2025, a 0.5 % increase over 2024. (GKV‑Spitzenverband report)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Total spending on medical aids by German statutory health insurers reached €12.1 billion in 2025, about 5 % higher than in 2024. (GKV‑Spitzenverband report)