"The financial situation is disastrous" - DAK boss sounds the alarm - and warns of rising contributions in the coming months

The financial situation of statutory health insurance companies has not calmed down even after premium adjustments in 2025. Andreas Storm, head of DAK-Gesundheit, is sounding the alarm and warning of rising premiums in the coming months. He is appealing to the new federal government to do so.

"The financial situation of the statutory health and nursing care insurance is disastrous," says Andreas Storm, CEO of DAK-Gesundheit, to "Bild". The health insurance companies' reserves have been used up, and quick action is now required. His appeal a few days after the election: "The newly elected federal government must take stock of its finances in the short term in order to recognize the urgency and extent of the financial problems."

Storm also describes a worst-case scenario in the event that nothing happens. Then there is a risk of further increases in contributions in the next few months, i.e. during the year - and this after the sometimes significant increases in the individual additional contributions of the health insurance funds at the turn of the year .

The DAK boss, who in 2024 blamed the then-current traffic light government for the grievances , also called for a health and care summit to be held in the Chancellery within the next two months. The new Chancellor, the Minister of Health and representatives of the health insurance companies are to take part.

He clearly states the goal that Storm wants to achieve: an "immediate program" for the health insurance companies. This is urgently needed. "In the short term, there must be an entry point for a higher federal subsidy and the unconstitutional financing of the hospital reform by the health insurance companies must be stopped." Storm also reminded everyone that the nursing care insurance is entitled to repayment of the Corona expenses. This involves a sum of six billion euros.

Even before the general election , several health insurance representatives, including Storm, had warned of bankruptcies . Jens Baas, head of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), had also complained that "the gap between contribution income and expenditure in the health system is widening. And politicians are doing nothing about it."

Figures from the "Politico" portal support the alarm mood of the health insurance bosses. According to them, the deficit in the statutory health insurance (GKV) rose to more than six billion euros in 2024. This is significantly more than the health insurance funds had recently expected. Specifically, the Association of Substitute Health Insurance Funds (including TK, Barmer and DAK) reported a deficit of 2.5 billion euros, the General Local Health Insurance Funds (AOK) a deficit of 1.5 billion euros, the company health insurance funds of 1.4 billion euros and the guild health insurance funds of 662 million euros.