Wednesday, October 29, 2025

TK Chairman Jens Baas on the GKV Financial Forecast 2026: “No Relief in Sight – Health Care Costs Keep Rising”

The German Statutory Health Insurance (GKV) forecasting committee has released its financial outlook for 2026. According to the report, the average additional contribution rate will increase by 0.4 percentage points to 2.9 percent.

Dr. Jens Baas, CEO of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), sees this as a clear warning signal:

“With an optimistic revenue forecast, a government loan, and a small last-minute savings package, the structural financial problem of the statutory health insurance system remains unsolved.”

Baas emphasized that medical expenses continue to rise sharply across all sectors and criticized the government for not taking broader action:

“It’s incomprehensible why the government focuses only on hospitals and health insurers instead of addressing all areas of expenditure.”

According to Baas, one solution has long been on the table: raising the mandatory discounts that pharmaceutical manufacturers must grant, which could save billions for health insurers.

He further warned:“The pain threshold for contributions has long been reached – for both policyholders and businesses. Unfortunately, I see no reason for optimism.”

Health insurers are also required to rebuild their reserves, which were significantly reduced in recent years due to political interventions. This factor, Baas noted, will also impact contribution rates, adding pressure on both insured individuals and employers.

Conclusion: The latest forecast brings no good news for policyholders. Only a consistent and comprehensive spending reform could prevent further cost escalation in the statutory health insurance system.