ÖGK under pressure: massive cuts should save 500 million euros!

ÖGK under pressure: massive cuts should save 500 million euros!

The Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) faces a challenging financial situation. A predicted deficit of 906 million euros for the current year forces the cash register to drastic austerity measures. ÖGK chairman Peter McDonald from the ÖVP has set itself the goal of reaching a balanced financial situation by 2026. In order to implement this, drastic measures are announced for both the administration and the insured.

The planned measures that are to be tested in three federal states contain stricter control when accessing specialists and cost -intensive services. This could result in restrictions on imaging procedures such as CT and MRI examinations as well as for patient transports. A central element of the savings plan is to increase the health insurance contribution for pensioners to six percent from June 2025, which should generate additional additional income of around 300 million euros.

drastic savings for the health insurance fund

The ÖGK has set itself the goal of saving 500 million euros this year. For this purpose, negotiations with doctors about blood findings and expensive studies are to be conducted. The health insurance fund relies on financial concessions from its contractual partners, especially resident doctors, and hopes for support from the federal states.

In its own administrative area, the ÖGK plans to fill up only every second position after retirement, which should result in reducing investments. The closure of non -covering ambulatories will also be discussed. Crucial consultations for this are planned in the Board of Directors and the Annual General Meeting, specific decisions are expected in the near future.

long -term challenges in the health system

The public health system in Austria is mainly financed from wage and salary contributions. In order to address future financing problems in the health system, alternative financing options are discussed. An increase in the maximum contribution basis for 25% annual additional income of around 220 million euros could generate, which could theoretically lead to reducing the contribution rate by 0.4 percentage points. In addition, an expansion of the contribution basis for income from renting and leasing could bring in additional income of around 80 million euros.

A reversing of employer contributions to health insurance could also contribute to financial relief. This could reduce the contribution rate of currently 3.6% of the wage and salary amount to only 1.6% to 2.6% of value creation. It is also discussed to increase special consumer taxes by 25%, which could result in a reduction in the contribution rate by 1¼ percentage points.

remains unclear when the approximately 7.5 million insured in Austria will actually feel the effects of the measures. Many are now facing the challenge of adapting to the potential cuts in the health sector.

For detailed information on the planned austerity measures and their implications, the reports on the pages of orf , kosmo and wifo are consulted.