Germany confronts soaring health‑insurance costs and rising rescue‑service expenses

The German government’s response to a sharp increase in health‑insurance spending highlights two key developments. A parliamentary inquiry revealed that costs for emergency medical transport have surged by roughly 126 % over a decade, rising from €3.1 billion in 2015 to an estimated €7.0 billion in 2025. Ambulance trips alone jumped from €1.98 billion to €5.08 billion, while the number of ambulance missions grew modestly from about 5.0 million in 2015 to 6.1 million in 2024, accounting for only a small part of the cost surge.

At the same time, the government is preparing a new “GKV‑Beitragsstabilisierungsgesetz” to curb the financial strain on statutory health insurance. Effective August, the IKK classic will raise its supplemental contribution by 0.45 percentage points to 3.85 %, bringing the total contribution to 18.45 % (14.6 % standard + 3.85 % supplemental). The reform also foresees cuts to administrative expenses, new revenue sources, and, from 2028, the end of free family coverage for many spouses and partners, imposing extra charges on retirees and low‑income earners.