No Increase in Health Insurance Contributions?: CSU Accuses Lauterbach of Deceiving the Public

Health Minister Lauterbach's Promise: No Increase in Contributions?

According to estimates, health insurers must cover approximately 25 billion euros from 2026 to 2035 due to upcoming hospital reforms. However, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach assures that contribution rates will not rise in the next two years, prompting accusations of deception from the CSU.

Bavaria's Health Minister Judith Gerlach has publicly challenged Lauterbach's claims regarding the anticipated increase in health insurance contributions. She criticized the SPD politician for potentially misleading the public by stating that higher contributions for 2026 are unlikely and attributing the upcoming increases in supplemental contributions to the hospital reform. Gerlach stated to the "Augsburger Allgemeine" that "Lauterbach deceives the public," highlighting that significant additional costs will arise with the planned transformation fund starting in 2026.

From 2026 onwards, the coalition government has mandated that health insurers bear costs totaling up to 25 billion euros for the restructuring of the hospital landscape, according to the recently passed legislation on hospital reform.