Need for reform in the healthcare system: Health Finance Commission presents its first report – Prof. Sundmacher and Prof. Laxy involved
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On March 30, 2026, the Health Finance Commission presented its first report containing reform recommendations for stabilizing statutory health insurance (GKV). Federal Health Minister Nina Warken accepted the report at the Federal Press Conference and presented the findings to the public. The commission’s goal is to stabilize contribution rates starting as early as 2027 while ensuring a high level of care. With Prof. Dr. Leonie Sundmacher, head of the Professorship of Health Economics, and Prof. Dr. Michael Laxy, head of the Professorship of Public Health and Prevention, two researchers from the Department Health and Sport Sciences at the Technical University of Munich are involved in the commission.
The report highlights the urgent need for action: Without reforms, a funding gap of around 15 billion euros is projected as early as 2027, which could grow to approximately 40 billion euros by 2030. At the same time, additional premiums for insured individuals would rise significantly, thereby placing increasing pressure on the principle of solidarity in statutory health insurance.
To counteract this trend, the commission has developed a total of 66 reform recommendations. These include measures to limit the growth of expenditures, strengthen revenue streams, and further develop healthcare delivery structures. A central approach is to link expenditure trends more closely to revenue in order to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of statutory health insurance. Furthermore, the Commission recommends consistently strengthening the principle of evidence-based medicine and no longer financing services without proven benefits from the solidarity-based community’s funds in the future.
Further recommendations include, among other things:
limiting over- and under-provision of care, for example through second-opinion procedures,
a moderate adjustment of copayments,
greater tax-based financing of non-insurance benefits,
and strengthening prevention, for example through higher taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages.
If all proposed measures were implemented, this would result in a total volume of around 42 billion euros in 2027 and approximately 64 billion euros by 2030. This would even significantly exceed the projected funding gap, thereby giving policymakers leeway in selecting and implementing the reforms.
Prof. Sundmacher, vice-chair of the commission, emphasizes the importance of effective and sustainable measures: “Sustainable financing requires that benefits for the solidarity-based community be effective and remain affordable in the long term. That is why strengthening prevention is also among our recommendations. Raising taxes on high-risk consumer goods creates incentives for healthier behavior and helps relieve the burden on the solidarity-based community.”
Prof. Laxy also underscores the need for an integrated reform approach: “The statutory health insurance system can only be stabilized in the long term through a combination of evidence-based, efficient care and prevention. It is particularly important to address health inequalities and distribute the burden fairly. The proposed measures make a concrete and immediate contribution to this effort—one that will begin to contribute to financial stabilization as early as 2027."
The Insitute of Media and Communications and TUM had previously reported on the appointment of Prof. Sundmacher and Prof. Laxy to the Health Finance Commission. Through their participation, both bring their scientific expertise in health economics, public health, and prevention to the health policy debate and contribute to the development of evidence-based reform approaches for the future of the German healthcare system.
To the report of the Health Finance Commission
To the homepage of the Professorship of Health Economics
To the homepage of the Professorship of Public Health and Prevention
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Leonie Sundmacher
Professorship of Health Economics
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 München
phone: 089 289 24464
e-mail: leonie.sundmacher(at)tum.de
Prof. Dr. Michael Laxy
Professorship of Public Health and Prevention
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 München
phone: 089 289 24977
e-mail: michael.laxy(at)tum.de
Text: Dr. Romy Schwaiger/Health Finance Commission
Photos: “Tagesschau”/Astrid Eckert, TUM