Correspondent: Isabelle Scholl
The absolute increase in health insurance spending in Germany dropped to 3.6 percent in the first half of 2017 — the lowest figure recorded in the past three years, according to the Germany Ministry of Health’s financial results for the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI). The absolute increase in health insurance spending has dropped from 5.7 percent in 2014 to 4.3 percent in 2015 and 4.2 percent in 2016. Spending slowed despite the SHI covering an additional 1.2 million people compared to 2016. Individuals who newly registered for SHI are younger and claim less health benefits, which has likely contributed to the flattening of health care expenditures.
