Health fund with twelve billion surplus

Massive surplus in the health fund opens up new room for maneuver

11.10.2012

According to calculations by the circle of statutory health insurers, the surplus in the health fund will amount to around 12 billion euros by the end of the year, reports the „Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung“ (FAZ) citing information „involved in circles.“ In the coming year, financial reserves in the healthcare system could even increase, according to the results of the current calculations.

The main reasons for the health fund surpluses are the persistently good employment and salary increases, reflected in higher contributions. The billions of surpluses of the statutory health insurance are not included in the current calculations, reports the „FAZ“. In view of the financial reserves in the health fund, the experts also expect further discussions about the abolition of the practice fee and possible reduction of contributions.

Revenues in the health fund benefit from the good economic situation
The health fund's revenues have continued to rise as a result of the good economic development and will be significantly higher than originally expected at the end of the year. In the coming year, an additional increase of around three billion euros to a total of 15 billion euros surplus in the health fund to be expected, reports the „FAZ“ citing the calculations of the circle of estimators of the statutory health insurance. The expert panel of experts from the Ministry of Health, the health insurance funds and the Federal Insurance Office have already taken into account the expected increase in health insurance expenditures for the care of patients.

Expenditure increases of the health insurance considered
The experts in the large expenditure blocks of the health insurance companies, the medicines and the outpatient care, assume cost increases of four percent. Also for the hospital treatments, which account for approximately one third of the cash expenditure with 62 billion euro, a growth of 4.25 per cent was taken as basis. In addition, the foreseeable fee increases for the physicians were taken into account. The health insurances and the medical profession had recently agreed on an increase in the remuneration for the general practitioners and psychotherapists by a total of 1.15 to 1.27 billion euros. With this compromise, the weeks-long dispute between the negotiating partners of the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung (KBV) and the Central Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) was settled for the time being.

Lowering the contribution rate or abolishing the practice fee?
Despite taking into account the significant increases in healthcare spending, the health fund has a considerable surplus, which is likely to arouse greediness among policyholders and policymakers. For example, a renewed debate is expected on the abolition of the practice fee or possible reductions in the contribution rate. The reduction of the contribution rate by one percentage point would cost about one billion euros, the general abolition of the practice fee about 1.9 billion euros. In view of the good financial situation, KKH was the first health insurance company to anticipate possible developments and reimburses the insured for the practice fee. „The practice fee burdens unilaterally ill insured persons and has no control effect. It's not fair“, CEO Ingo Kailuweit explained the procedure and added: „We do not want to keep our insured persons waiting until the legislature comes to this conclusion and finally abolishes the fee.“

From next year onwards, the KKH will reimburse the insured for the practice fee due at the doctor, dentist or psychotherapist visit, up to an amount of 40 euros per year. Insured persons simply have to submit their receipt for payment of the fee. However, not all members of the KKH receive a corresponding refund, but this is subject to certain conditions. So must the insured „Demonstrate four measures for health-conscious behavior, such as participation in check-ups or active membership in the sports club“, to have a claim to the reimbursement of the practice fee, reports the KKH. (Fp)

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Dispute over billions in surplus in the health fund

Picture: Gerd Altmann