German health insurers face new contribution rules and a major merger

The German GKV Contribution Stabilisation Act, passed by the Bundestag, eliminates the duty for statutory health insurers to inform members about increases in supplemental contributions. From 2027, insurers can raise contributions without notifying members, making it harder for insured individuals to exercise their special termination right. The same law also allows Krankenkassen to initiate contact with beneficiaries receiving sick‑pay benefits without prior consent, though the first call must inform the recipient of their right to object.

In parallel, the government’s digitalisation drive under the GeDIG package targets bureaucracy reduction, projecting annual savings of €445 million by replacing paper forms with electronic submissions and digitising doctor letters.

Separately, two regional statutory health insurers, vivida BKK and BKK Scheufelen, have filed a merger request with the Federal Cartel Office. The combined entity, to be named vivida BKK, would serve about 376 000 insured members from 1 January 2027.

Other related developments include a proposed Pflegereform that would raise insured contributions while reducing certain care benefits, and a study warning of a looming shortage of general practitioners that could leave up to 12 000 primary‑care positions vacant by 2040.