Hardship case regulation required for additional contributions

The welfare organization Volkssolidarität calls for a hardship case in the health insurance additional contributions

The Volkssolidarität calls for the planned additional contributions by the health insurance companies a hardship case for recipients of basic benefits Hartz IV (SGB II and SGB XII), retirees and low-income earners. „If you have an income of less than 985 Euro - d. H. below the current exemption limit for earned income - must be exempted from the additional contributions.“ This was stated by the Federal Director of the Social and Welfare Association, Volkssolidarität, Dr. med. Bernd Netherlands, on Wednesday. He criticized that the additional contributions would exacerbate social injustices and increase the barriers to access to health services for all.

Possible alternatives were not examined, regretted the federal managing director. Additional contributions could certainly be avoided by raising the income threshold in statutory health insurance, by deducting cost-covering contributions for the long-term unemployed and by stricter regulations against the exodus of higher earners to private health insurance. "We criticize that the Federal Government does not even consider these possibilities, but up to now also in the health area preferential client interests served," emphasized

"We urge the Federal Government to mitigate the social imbalance of the additional contributions, at least for those sections of the population who are particularly disadvantaged because of their low incomes." A clear and simple case of hardship regulation based on the current seizure freeze could help reduce the negative effects It would also be consistent to extend this exemption from the additional contributions to the practice fee and additional payments. " The Netherlands pointed out that such a case of hardship could also reduce the bureaucracy and avoid payment orders at health insurance companies. "This would be in the interest of those affected and the coffers." (pm, 27.01.2010)

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