The German statutory health insurance (GKV) system continued evolving in July 2025 with major cost and infrastructure changes that will affect millions of insured individuals. Contribution hikes, digital record upgrades, and new reimbursement policies dominated the healthcare landscape this month.
Nine Health Insurers Raise Zusatzbeitrag Rates
Effective 1 July 2025, nine statutory health insurance providers implemented new Zusatzbeitrag (additional contribution) rate increases, citing mounting cost pressures and the need to sustain service levels. Among the most notable changes:
- BMW BKK: from 2.90% to 3.90%
- IKK – Die Innovationskasse: from 3.60% to 4.30%
- EY BKK: from 1.04% to 2.29%
- BKK PwC: from 2.08% to 2.40%
These adjustments add to prior hikes in early 2025 and further increase the financial burden on insured members, with some seeing monthly contributions rise by over €20.
ePA System Upgraded to Version 3.0.5
Germany’s nationwide electronic patient record (ePA) system received a technical update in July. Version 3.0.5 improves stability and introduces the TI-Messenger feature, a secure messaging tool for patient-provider communication.
The opt-out model introduced earlier in 2025 means nearly all GKV members are automatically enrolled unless they take steps to opt out. The Federal Ministry of Health emphasizes that these updates will enhance efficiency and reduce communication errors.
Planning for Hybrid-DRGs in 2026 Advances
In early July, Germany’s extended assessment committee finalized parameters for the Hybrid-DRG system to be implemented in 2026. This framework integrates inpatient and outpatient billing models for certain services, aiming to reduce fragmentation in care delivery and streamline reimbursement.
Hospital associations expressed cautious support but warned that combining complex and simple services under a unified payment category might widen financial strain if not correctly balanced.