More than 120,000 people consistently refuse to pay their health insurance premiums or own-risk payments and their combined debt is now almost €1bn, RTL news reported at the weekend.

Every month, the amount owed for unpaid health insurance rises by €20m, the broadcaster said.

People who don’t pay their premiums for a period of more than six months face a fine of 30% of what they owe, plus the basic payments. The premiums themselves are paid by the health insurance council to the insurance company.

Health minister Edith Schippers said in a reaction the current situation is unacceptable.