Overview
- Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil on Saturday dismissed moving health insurance costs for Bürgergeld recipients to the federal budget, calling the roughly €12 billion shift a “Milchmädchenrechnung.”
- The Spitzenverband of statutory insurers and patient advocates condemned the refusal, arguing current funding is socially unfair and possibly unlawful, and noting the insurers’ ongoing lawsuit against the government.
- Following weekend talks without a public deal, media reports on Monday said coalition leaders are also considering cuts to employer sick-pay, including a shorter six-week period, a once-per-year cap, and a revived one-day waiting period.
- The experts’ panel that proposed the cost shift issued 66 recommendations to steady statutory health insurance (GKV), including mandatory second opinions for planned surgeries, ending spousal co-insurance, and removing homeopathy from covered benefits.
- The decision affects workers and households directly, since keeping costs in the GKV could pressure contribution rates, while potential sick-pay changes would reduce wages during illness and push more costs onto insurers as budget planning tightens later this month.