[REVISION HISTORY]

German health insurance reform and GKV spending cuts

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What changed

2026-10-31 06:05 UTC → 2026-11-01 04:56 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In July 2026, the German government passed the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz (BStabG) to reduce spending by €19 billion by 2030. Key measures include raising pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates to 15.5%, increasing prescription ~~co-payments,~~ co-payments from 5–10 euros to 7.50–15 euros, and raising hospital daily rates to €15 starting January 2027. Dental prosthetic subsidies will ~~also~~ decrease from 60% to 50% on January 1, 2027. Additionally, a flat fee of €15 for physiotherapy per prescription will be implemented, and homeopathic or anthroposophic prescriptions for children under 12 were eliminated in July 2026, with a total ban for all ages starting in 2027. Further reforms scheduled for 2028 will overhaul family insurance, ending free co-insurance for certain adult ~~partners in single-income households~~ partners, such as those who are not parents, caregivers, or retirees, and replacing it with a 2.5 percent contribution surcharge. ~~In the private sector (PKV), the PKV Association predicts 53 percent of policyholders will face significant premium increases in 2027, averaging 13.4 percent.~~ Financial instability is mounting in the hospital sector. A Roland Berger study ~~of approximately 600 hospital directors~~ found that 73 percent of surveyed clinics reported losses in 2025, with 56 percent reporting losses exceeding 10 percent of revenue. Some institutions reported deficits as high as 25 percent, leading to warnings of rising insolvencies. Consequently, 68 percent of hospitals intend to reduce nursing staff, ~~and~~ 86 percent plan cuts in ~~administration~~ administration, and over half plan to postpone or ~~other departments. Regarding contribution rates,~~ cancel investments in medical technology. In Bremen, the ~~Federal Ministry~~ municipal clinic group Geno projects a deficit of ~~Health announced that the average supplementary contribution rate for GKV will be set at 2.9 percent for 2027. While Minister Carsten Linnemann stated~~ €20 million this ~~stability benefits employees and employers, individual rates vary widely between 2.18 percent~~ year, potentially reaching €130 million by 2028. To avoid insolvency, management is preparing to reduce bed numbers and ~~4.39 percent. Furthermore, since July 2026, providers are no longer required~~ freeze new hires. Meanwhile, the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung estimates annual honor losses of €1.64 billion in the outpatient sector due to ~~proactively notify members~~ the removal of ~~supplementary contribution increases.~~ special remunerations.

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