German states unite against Health Minister Nina Warken's GKV savings plan

All sixteen German states are coordinating a joint request in the Bundesrat to block the cost‑cutting measures proposed by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) for the statutory health insurance (GKV). Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern health minister Stefanie Drese (SPD) said the draft will be presented on Friday and that the eastern states, led by her ministry, will co‑author the objection.

The states warn that the plan – which includes higher medication co‑payments, tighter limits on free spouse co‑insurance and overall spending caps – could trigger “Kliniksterben” (hospital closures) and a “hohe Insolvenzgefahr” (high insolvency risk) for hospitals. They also note that key cost factors such as non‑insurance services and contributions for recipients of citizen’s income remain untouched.

Techniker Krankenkasse estimates the federal contribution per person at €144 a month, covering only about a third of real costs, prompting experts to call for full financing from the federal budget. The government package aims to relieve the statutory funds by €16.3 billion by 2027 and avoid new supplementary contributions. While the Bundesrat can initially only comment, the states could effectively stall implementation. The dispute will be a major agenda item at the upcoming Health Ministers Conference in Bremen, where the Länder demand more discussion time on the GKV contribution‑stability law and care insurance reforms.