Surprising decision
Cooperation ended: health insurance companies call off merger
Updated on May 7, 2026 – 12:29 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The merger was intended to secure our own future viability and improve many things for customers. But now two health insurance companies are burying their plans again.
Last year, Salus BKK and BIG Direktgesundheit announced that they wanted to merge. Now the planned merger of the two health insurance companies has been canceled. Salus BKK announced that the cooperation agreement concluded in September 2025 will not be pursued further.
“After a closer look at the current situation and the search for a possible common future, it became clear that the similarities are too low and the expected benefits for the insured are not sufficiently given,” states Albrecht Ehlers, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Salus BKK.
Since September last year, both funds had carried out a comprehensive review of the financial situation and future viability of both funds. Possible synergies and advantages should be identified. But apparently nothing was found in this regard.
Last September it sounded completely different: “It was clear from the start: We fit together perfectly. We think similarly, especially when it comes to digitalization and customer orientation, and also complement each other from a business perspective,” Ehlers was quoted as saying at the time.
Board member Ute Schrader added: “Through the planned merger, we will generate many synergy effects that will improve and expand our customer service.” In its current press release, Salus BKK once again emphasizes its customer service, which can be offered with “extremely low administrative costs”. “These values must also withstand a potential merger,” it continues. Translated, this means: The ideas here were obviously noticeably different.
The BIG comments on the collapsed merger in a much more taciturn manner. The chairmen of the fund’s board of directors came to the conclusion “that there was no strategic fit,” according to a press release. During the discussions it became clear that the respective ideas about future direction did not match.
Robert Leitl, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BIG Direktgesundheit, described the planned merger last year as a logical step to secure its own future viability. Health insurance companies are currently facing major challenges, such as a shortage of skilled workers or growing demands due to digitalization, which are easier to manage for larger organizations.
