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Insured persons of the statutory health insurance must reckon with rising contributions
Photo: A3250 Oliver Berg/ dpa
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach assumes that an increase in health insurance contributions will be necessary to close the financial gap in the healthcare system.
You have to "tweak four screws: raise efficiency reserves in the health system, use reserves in the health insurance companies, grant additional federal grants and increase the contributions," said Lauterbach (SPD) of the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung".
However, he did not want to say by what percentage the contributions should increase.
According to the Central Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV), the funds will be short of 17 billion euros for next year.
Funds and the opposition quickly demand clarity as to where the money should come from, but the Minister of Health urged patience: "I will present a well-considered draft law in good time," said Lauterbach.
Lauterbach did not want to commit to an appointment before the summer break.
Financial problems that have been foreseeable for a long time
The increasing financing pressure in the statutory health insurance is not only due to the burden of the corona crisis, but also has deeper roots.
For a long time now there have been signs of an end to the contribution income, which has been increasing for years – because the number of employees will no longer increase in future due to demographic change, but is even likely to decrease.
In addition, the benefits of the health insurance companies had been expanded in the past.
Contribution adjustments that were actually necessary were recently avoided, however, as the federal government significantly expanded the grants from the federal treasury – in the form of billions in taxes.
Corona tests should remain free
Meanwhile, Lauterbach indicated that corona tests (citizen tests) could remain free beyond May: “If the corona situation requires it, the citizen tests will also be available beyond May 31st.
We decide according to the situation,” said the minister.
»The tests remain a valuable tool.«
Lauterbach appealed to the citizens: “Continue to use the tests, even if negative tests are no longer required for bars and discos.
When visiting relatives, celebrations, events.
Especially before encounters with immunocompromised people, the following should apply: Only with a negative test!«
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