Fee shock for Austrians: cost explosion from July 2025!

Fee shock for Austrians: cost explosion from July 2025!

Deutschland - On May 22, 2025, the government parties in Austria decided to adopt significant fee adjustments that come into force from July 1, 2025. The step aims to curb the rising costs in various areas of public administration. The increase in fees particularly affects the health insurance contributions from pensioners, which will increase from 5.1 % to 6 %. In addition to this increase, many other fees are also affected, starting with the passport to driving license and identity cards.

The new fees are far -reaching. The price for a passport is raised by almost 50 percent, from 75.90 euros to 112 euros. The ID card will also cost 91 euros in the future, an increase of 61.50 euros. The driver's license is more expensive to 90 euros, which also means an increase of 50 %. The vehicle approval will now cost 178 euros. 1,448 euros must be paid for the awarding of the citizenship, while the fee application is made with 163 euros.

rising fees and social consequences

In addition, the customs around the marriage are affected, whereby the costs for a marriage from 50 euros to 74 euros increase. Freedom MP Alexander Petschnig described the measures as a stress package for the masses, while Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer from the SPÖ is optimistic about financial renovation.

The changes are in a larger context, since statutory health insured in Germany must also expect higher contributions in Germany in 2025. The GKV assessor has predicted a financing gap of 13.8 billion euros, which could result in an increase in the average additional contribution by 0.8 percentage points to 2.5 percent. With a gross income of 3,000 euros, this would mean a monthly load of 12 euros net for those affected. Current expenses of the health insurance companies for 2025 are estimated at 341.4 billion euros, with an increase in expenses for hospital treatment and medicines.

challenges in the health system

The financial challenges in the health sector can also be felt in Austria. According to bpb.de , an increase in health expenditure has been determined since the corona crisis. In 2022, health expenditure in Germany amounted to 498 billion euros, which corresponds to 12.8 % of gross domestic product and gives Germany third place in health expenditure worldwide. Here, 53 % of these expenses could be found on statutory health insurance (GKV).

The expenditure structure shows that 32.1 % of the SHI expenditure is no longer available on hospital treatment, while pharmaceutical supply costs 17.8 %. The financial bottlenecks caused by the increasing costs in the health system require reforms and possibly adjustments to the social contributions. Minister of Health Lauterbach has already announced increasing contributions, and the political discussion about a pension package and the adaptation of social contributions for well -earning profits are becoming increasingly important.

In this complex situation, the question remains open to how the governing parties encounter the challenges in the health sector in both Austria and Germany and at the same time balance the financial burden for citizens.