Germany's spiralling public health deficit
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Germany's statutory health insurance system (GKV) has recorded a deficit of around DM 7,300 million ($4,940 million) in the first half of the year. This compares with DM 7,000 million for the whole of 1995. Krankenkassen expenditure continues to exceed income from contributions: in west Germany expenditure rose 2.9% compared with an increase in income of only 1.4%, while the corresponding figures for east Germany are 6.2% and 1.9%.