(de-news.net) – Efforts to consolidate the statutory health insurance landscape in Germany have encountered opposition from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband). Its chair, Oliver Blatt, criticized the initiative, stating that it distracts from addressing the urgent financial challenges facing the system of compulsory health insurance.

Blatt underscored the current competitive structure among insurers, noting the significant reduction in their number from 420 in the year 2000 to just 94 as of today. He contended that statutory insurers maintain notably lower administrative expenses than their private counterparts, attributing the bulk of administrative costs to personnel who facilitate communication and office services for approximately 75 million insured individuals. According to Blatt, any potential savings achieved through further consolidation would be marginal and insufficient to offset the annual increase in service-related expenditures.

In response, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) maintained that a reduction in the number of insurers remains feasible without undermining operational integrity. She acknowledged that while financial gains from restructuring may be limited, the public consistently expresses a preference for streamlined administrative costs regardless of the number of active insurers.