German health insurers hike executive pay while raising member premiums

Executives at Germany's statutory health insurers have received significant pay rises and bonuses over the past year. This comes as the sector faces financial pressure, with insurers cutting healthcare costs and raising premiums for members.

Several top managers saw their salaries climb, while others earned extra payments on top of already high earnings.

At AOK Niedersachsen, three executives took home bonuses between €38,381 and €62,576. AOK Hessen also awarded its three top managers a combined €159,767 in extra payments. Meanwhile, Dr. Carola Reimann, head of the AOK Federal Association, earned €319,400 in salary plus an additional €121,241 for her pension.

Gordana Maršić, CEO of AOK Baden-Württemberg, received a salary increase from €185,000 to €206,000, along with a €6,938 bonus. Christine Enenkel, CEO of Bahn-BKK, saw her pay rise from €178,750 to €195,000 in 2024, plus a €44,688 bonus. Michael Lempe, head of Handelskrankenkasse (HKK), had his salary jump by €21,419, bringing his total earnings to €287,104. Other insurers followed a similar pattern. Peter Kaetsch, CEO of BIG direkt gesund, received a €28,750 raise, while his deputy, Markus Bäumler, got an extra €24,050. Dirk Harrer, the new CEO of BKK Firmus, earned €31,424 more than his predecessor had in the previous year. Despite these pay increases, no recent data shows how additional contribution rates for statutory health insurers have changed over the last five years. This lack of information makes it impossible to compare executive salary growth with broader financial trends in the sector.

The rising salaries and bonuses for health insurance executives stand in contrast to the financial challenges facing the industry. While insurers push for cost cuts and higher member premiums, top managers continue to receive substantial pay packages. No official figures explain how these increases align with the sector's overall financial performance.