Cash deficit could almost double by 2025

Berlin Despite all the reform measures by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), the statutory health insurance funds are heading for a huge deficit in the coming years. According to an analysis by the consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the minus could increase to 33 billion euros by 2025 and thus almost double. The calculations are exclusively available to the Handelsblatt.

Among other things, the austerity measures planned by Lauterbach were included, which should, however, mainly relieve the burden on the coffers in the coming year. The minister assumes a deficit of 17 billion euros for 2023, but according to the BCG analysis it could already be 22 billion euros.

The insured would have to compensate for the shortfall with even higher additional contributions. Experts therefore believe that further measures are necessary to stabilize the cash register. The oversupply of clinics, the costs for unemployment benefit II recipients and a share of the health insurance companies in the tax revenue on tobacco and alcohol are under discussion.