ÖGK will reduce deficit by 650 million euros

The financial outlook of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) remains bleak, according to the fund's financial forecast dated May 15. A deficit of 906.7 million euros is projected for 2025 (as was also the case in February). However, it won't be that bad, emphasized Chairman Peter McDonald (ÖVP) on Friday to the APA. He aims to reduce the deficit by 650 million euros to around 250 million euros this year and achieve a balanced budget by 2026.

According to McDonald, the quarterly financial forecast only reflects what already has implementation impacts. "The majority of what we will implement is not yet factored in," he emphasized: "We are staying on the path we have set for ourselves, namely a balanced budget by 2026 as the goal."

The measures planned in connection with the federal double budget for 2025/26, specifically the increase in the health insurance contribution for pensioners from 5.1 to 6.0 percent and the increase in the e-card service fee from 13.80 to 25 euros, could not yet be considered in the "bureaucratic" forecast to the supervisory authority, according to McDonald.

"Addressing Some Established Misdevelopments"

This would include the planned savings in their own administration and restraint in agreements with contract partners, such as doctors, that have been planned. The reduction of "medically unnecessary oversupply" and "addressing some established misdevelopments" are also targeted. Anything else would be unethical, according to McDonald: "We must not shy away from saying that what is medically unnecessary cannot be paid for by the insured community."

The treasurer identifies positive reactions to this consolidation course from various professional groups, such as the physiotherapists' association or orthopedics. They are also in exchange with the medical association in a working group on how to distinguish between medically unnecessary and necessary treatments.

However, this financial turnaround is by no means in the bag, he emphasized. "We will only manage to reduce the deficit by 650 million euros if we succeed in implementing measures in administration and with contract partners at the negotiation table, and in reducing overprovision and misprovision. This is not something that just happens on its own." And: "These are ambitious goals. We may fail in some areas, but we will overachieve in others."

ÖGK Head Thinks of Surpluses

For the period after 2026, McDonald even aims for surpluses to be able to build up reserves again. The aging population, medical progress, and new technologies make this necessary, also knowing that the economy needs to be relieved.

Without the additional financial contributions and savings, the forecast for Austria's health insurance would be bleak, the preview shows. Not only would the ÖGK's deficit be 906.7 million euros this year, but it would also continue to worsen in the following years (2026: 1.059 billion euros; 2027: 1.129 billion euros; 2028: 1.221 billion euros; 2028: 1.356 billion euros). Similarly, the calculation for all three statutory health insurance providers shows that the deficit would rise from 1.073 billion euros this year to 1.596 billion euros by 2029.

(APA/Red)

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