Health Insurance Barmer GEK closes additional branches

Nationwide conversion: Barmer GEK closes additional locations
The health insurance company Barmer GEK wants to close half of its branches nationwide and save hundreds of millions of euros. In Thuringia the cash register now closes five of its branches. How many should follow is not certain yet.

Nationwide restructuring
As part of its nationwide restructuring, the health insurance company Barmer GEK will close another five of its 28 branches in Thuringia by the end of August. As reported on "mdr.de", the locations Hildburghausen, Sonneberg, Ilmenau, Altenburg and Sondershausen are affected. The spokesman for the Barmer GEK in Thuringia, Robert Büssow, told "MDR THÜRINGEN" that these branches would be merged with neighboring locations. These would be strengthened by personnel. According to the information, for example, the office should be merged with the one in Nordhausen. Insured in southern Thuringia could also visit the offices in Coburg and Kronach in Bavaria, said Büssow. It is said that the locations Bad Langensalza, Arnstadt, Greiz and Neuhaus are also to be closed.

Barmer GEK will close branches in numerous locations. (Image: Coloures-pic / fotolia.com)

Save up to 300 million euros annually
Last year, Barmer GEK launched a nationwide restructuring to cut its costs by 250 to 300 million euros a year. Overall, the number of branches in Germany is to be reduced by half to around 400. According to Büssow, it is still not clear how many branches will eventually close the box office in the Free State. He said to the "MDR": "But we will probably approach the nationwide value." The health fund currently has around 250,000 insured persons in Thuringia.

Reinforced austerity program of the health insurance companies
For a long time, an increased austerity program of health insurance is expected. The largest public health insurance companies make millions of losses, was reported last year. In this context, it was, among other things, addressed that this could increase the additional contributions for the insured in the future in order to plug the financial holes. Savings opportunities at clinics are also considered by some. Or just the reduction of the cash register branches. (Ad)

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