Increased expenses for medical devices: Health insurance association seeks clearer disclosure - Skyrocketing medical device prices prompt GKV-Verband to demand greater transparency
In a recent report, statutory health insurers (GKV) in Germany have highlighted the issue of additional costs for medical aids, revealing that on average, insured individuals paid an extra 148.70 euros for these items last year. The total expenditure for medical aids in 2023 was 11 billion euros, with around 80% of the aids obtained without additional costs.
Oliver Blatt, chairman of the GKV association, emphasized the need for understanding the reasons behind these additional costs. He suggested that a legal reporting obligation could provide valuable insights, enabling a more in-depth analysis of the situation. The main reasons for paying additional costs were found to be comfort and aesthetics.
However, the current legal status regarding the disclosure of reasons for additional costs in the provision of medical aids is not directly detailed in the recent sources from 2025. The 2024 Hospital Transparency Act aims to improve transparency in hospital performance but does not explicitly mandate disclosure of reasons for additional costs in medical aids provision.
Statutory health insurance in Germany typically covers a standard benefit package for medical and dental aids. Patients are responsible for extra costs, particularly for high-cost items like dentures or implants. However, the law does not detail the legal requirements for providers to disclose cost reasons.
No recent legal reforms from 2024 or 2025 explicitly address obligations to disclose reasons for additional costs in medical aids provision under current German medical aid laws or health insurance regulations.
The GKV demands a legal reporting obligation to understand why insured persons choose aids with additional costs. They believe that this would protect insured persons from unjustified additional costs. Providers of aids should be obliged to state the reasons for additional costs, according to the GKV.
In summary, while the issue of additional costs for medical aids remains a concern, the transparency obligations under existing law remain limited. The GKV's call for a legal reporting obligation could potentially lead to a more transparent market, providing valuable insights into the reasons behind additional costs and protecting insured persons from unjustified expenses.
[1] Krankenhaustransparenzgesetz (KHG), Bundesgesetzblatt (BGBl.) Teil I, S. 3356, 20. Dezember 2023. [2] Steuerliche Transparenz, Bundesfinanzministerium, 2025. [3] Leistungskatalog der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung, GKV-Spitzenverband, 2024. [4] Sozialgesetzbuch V (SGB V), § 23b, 2023.
- The GKV associates believe that a legal reporting obligation could offer insights into the reasons behind the Choice of medical aids with additional costs, potentially protecting insured individuals from unjustified expenses.
- Although the current legal status does not explicitly detail providers' obligations to disclose reasons for additional costs, the science behind medical-conditions and health-and-wellness may reveal crucial information, aiding in the development of community policy regarding health insurance expenses.
