Germany implements GKV reforms to address healthcare deficits

Germany is implementing significant reforms to its statutory health insurance (GKV) through the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz. Aiming to offset a projected deficit of over 18 billion euros by 2027, the legislation introduces several cost-shifting measures for insured citizens.

Key changes include an increase in medication co-payments from 5–10 euros to 7.50–15 euros. The scope of covered services is also narrowing; for instance, cannabis flowers will no longer be reimbursable, and coverage for homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine will be removed. Additionally, dental subsidies for standard care are set to drop from 60 percent to 50 percent starting in 2027, making prosthetics and bridges more expensive for millions.

In a separate financial development, the insurer IKK Classic has raised its supplementary contribution by 0.45 percentage points to 3.85 percent, affecting approximately 2.86 million members. Meanwhile, 79 health insurance funds have filed lawsuits against the German government, arguing that federal payments to the health fund are insufficient to cover the costs of treating recipients of social benefits (Bürgergeld).