ÖGK Expects High Loss

A deficit of 459.6 million euros is forecast for the ÖGK in 2026, which is expected to rise to 797.7 million euros by 2029. Peter McDonald, chairman of the umbrella association of social insurance carriers, emphasizes the need for systemic measures. Currently, the ÖGK's deficit amounts to 546.6 million euros, while the total deficit of the health insurance funds is 583.3 million euros.

ÖGK Expects Triple-Digit Million Deficit This Year

In the financial forecast in August, a total balance loss of 591 million euros for 2025 was assumed, which has decreased by almost eight million euros, the umbrella association announced. All three statutory health insurance carriers will collectively have a deficit of 438.3 million euros in 2026 and a deficit of 926.9 million euros in 2029.

For the Insurance Institution for Public Servants, Railways, and Mining (BVAEB), the deficit in 2025 is 105.7 million. The Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed (SVS) is in the positive, with 69.1 million euros in 2025. The SVS is thus mainly responsible for the slight improvement in this year's total deficit. The ÖGK forecast is still far from the "black zero" target for 2026 that was set in the spring.

McDonald Calls for Systemic Measures

In light of the new figures, McDonald urged systemic measures in an interview with APA. There needs to be funding from a single source, "where the money follows the medical service." Therefore, he is also quite receptive to the proposal by Salzburg's governor Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) to transfer all health agendas to the federal government. The population is now also putting pressure on politics, and financial difficulties in the federal states are adding to this, according to McDonald. "This fuels my hope that we might be ready for a big step."

Medical necessity should also increasingly come into focus, McDonald cited as an example, linking CT and MRI examinations "more closely to scientific evidence." Doctors should not, for example, refer every person further; patients also need to take more personal responsibility again. Additionally, McDonald envisions incentive models for more preventive care.

Five Challenges

"We notice that the architecture of the healthcare system is crumbling, it needs more innovation and self-responsibility," he emphasized. There are five major challenges - including demographic development. In the next 25 years, the number of people over 65 would increase from 1.8 to 2.7 million. This group would require twice as many medical services as younger people. At the same time, the number of people who can pay contributions and the hours worked would decrease. Additionally, due to rapid medical progress, "great medications are in the pipeline," which would also bring additional costs.

McDonald also sees the fact that economic growth is "no longer booming," as it did in the 2000s, as a challenge. "A gap is developing between rapidly increasing expenses for treatments and not equally increasing revenues." He also sees a "certain lack of culture" towards "I am entitled to it, no matter what it costs."

(APA/Red)

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