German health insurers hike executive pay while raising member premiums
Germany's statutory health insurers are under financial pressure, yet their top executives continue to receive substantial pay rises and bonuses. While members face higher premiums and service cuts, recent figures reveal significant salary increases for many insurance leaders across the country.
At BIG direkt gesund, CEO Peter Kaetsch saw his pay rise by €28,750, while his deputy, Markus Bäumler, received an extra €24,050. Over at AOK Hessen, three executives shared a total of €159,767 in bonuses. Dirk Harrer, the new CEO of BKK Firmus, now earns €31,424 more than his predecessor did last year.
AOK Niedersachsen awarded its three top managers bonuses between €38,381 and €62,576. Gordana Maršić, head of AOK Baden-Württemberg, increased her salary from €185,000 to €206,000, plus an additional €6,938 bonus. Christine Enenkel, CEO of Bahn-BKK, now earns €195,000—up from €178,750 in 2023—along with a €44,688 bonus.
Dr. Carola Reimann, leading the AOK Federal Association, took home €319,400 in salary plus €121,241 for her pension. Meanwhile, Michael Lempe of Handelskrankenkasse (HKK) saw his pay jump by €21,419, bringing his total to €287,104. These rises come as additional premium rates for members climbed from 2.5% in 2025 to 2.9% in 2026.
No regulatory measures have been introduced since 2019 to control executive pay in the sector. Data on salary trends over the past five years remains unavailable, leaving questions about oversight unanswered.
The growing gap between executive pay and financial strain on insurers has become more evident. With premiums rising and no recent regulations on salaries, members continue to bear the cost while leadership compensation climbs. The lack of transparency and oversight adds to concerns about fairness in the system.
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