BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – In view of rising costs in the health sector, the social association VdK has questioned the number of health insurance companies in Germany. The cash registers could and should also make their savings contribution, said VdK President Verena Bentele to the newspapers of the Funke media group (Saturday). “We have 96 health insurance companies in Germany. The question arises as to whether there have to be so many,” said Bentele. Every cash register has board members and an expensive administration.
That doesn’t mean that you don’t need the competent people who work there and look after members on site. “But if there were fewer cash registers, the administrative effort could be significantly reduced and thus save a lot of money,” Bentele continued.
Statutory health insurance is assuming a billion-dollar deficit for the coming year. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has already warned the insured that the contributions will have to increase next year./vee/DP/nas