The Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv) published survey findings examining whether individuals with statutory health insurance (GKV) are aware that health insurance funds can analyze billing data without explicit consent. Among respondents, 71% were unaware of this capability, while 57% considered the current procedure rather or completely inappropriate.
- The forsa phone survey was conducted for vzbv on September 22–24, 2026, among 1,024 statutorily insured adults aged 18 and older.
- 71% of respondents did not know insurers could analyze billing data without explicit consent to detect potential individual health risks; 57% expressed criticism of the practice.
- vzbv demands that insurers obtain prior consent before analyzing records. The release announces no change to current statutes.
What Current Law Permits
The vzbv release notes that statutory health insurance funds may analyze claims data—including diagnoses, therapies, and prescribed medications—without separate individual consent to alert policyholders to potential health risks. The statutory basis was established under the Health Data Utilization Act (Gesundheitsdatennutzungsgesetz, GDNG); under Section 25b of the German Social Code, Book V (§ 25b SGB V), insurers may systematically screen for serious illnesses, impending health risks, dangerous drug interactions, gaps in recommended vaccinations, and unidentified long-term care needs.
Survey Results
The telephone survey was carried out by opinion research institute forsa on behalf of vzbv from September 22 to 24, 2026, encompassing 1,024 statutorily insured adults aged 18 and over. The stated maximum margin of error is ±3 percentage points.
According to the study, 71% of respondents were unaware that insurers can review billing records without separate consent to highlight potential individual risk factors. Furthermore, 57% of participants characterized the regulation as rather or completely inappropriate. These figures measure the awareness and perspectives of survey respondents, not the actual proportion of funds conducting such screenings or their resulting clinical outcomes.
vzbv Demands and Proposed Data Expansion
vzbv advocates that health funds should only analyze patient data with explicit consent. vzbv health policy officer Lucas Auer urged lawmakers to ensure funds request prior consent before evaluating personal data. These statements reflect vzbv’s policy position; no formal legislative amendments were announced.
The publication further notes that under GeDIG—the Healthcare Data and Digital Innovation Act—plans exist to permit health funds to query records from electronic patient files (ePA) and wearable devices such as smartwatches for analysis. Ahead of any data expansion, vzbv recommends an independent assessment of whether risk notices produce measurable health benefits, alongside strict transparency regarding completed data evaluations.