German Health Insurers Face €6.2 Billion Deficit, Call for Spending Freeze

The deficit in statutory health insurance exceeds expectations, prompting demands for urgent reforms to stabilize finances and prevent further contribution hikes.

Germany's statutory health insurers reported a €6.2 billion deficit for 2024, €700 million higher than earlier projections.
The insurers raised contribution rates in January 2025 to an average of 17.5%, the highest increase in over 50 years, but financial challenges persist.
The GKV-Spitzenverband, representing health insurers, has urged the government to implement a spending moratorium to curb escalating costs.
The proposed moratorium aims to limit expenditures to match current income levels while structural reforms are enacted to balance finances.
Without intervention, health insurance contributions could rise significantly again by early 2026, impacting millions of insured individuals and employers.