Health insurance additional contributions soon unlimited?

Union of coalition and FDP continues to argue about the additional contribution of health insurance.

(05.07.2010) The dispute over the transformation of health care continues. While it became known on the weekend that the health insurance contribution rate will be raised from 14.9 to 15.5 percent, the FDP now wants to go one step further. Currently, the maximum rate of additional contributions is limited to one percent of the gross salary of an employee. The Union is pushing for the cap on additional contributions to be raised to 2%. But the FDP does not go far enough, they want to achieve that the additional contributions should be determined solely by the health insurance companies. This means that the funds should be able to demand unlimited contributions from insured persons.

The leaders of the coalition met last Friday for talks in which it was decided to raise the contribution limit of the statutory health insurance to 15.5 percent. At first, it looked like an agreement had been reached. But now the "Frankfurter Rundschau" wants to have learned that the FDP does not go far enough. It does not demand the additional contribution of the coffers at all anymore. As compensation, low-income earners should receive a subsidy from tax revenue. What this social compensation should look like remains open. A new dispute seems to be starting. Because it is surprising that no coalition politician publicly takes position on the recent FDP demands. It is only stated from government circles, the question of additional contributions should be rolled up again next Tuesday. Actually, the result should be announced on Tuesday already.

So it is only clear that the increased contribution rate of health insurance will be raised from 2011 to 15.5 percent. Employees should pay a rate of 8.2 and employers 7.3 percent. The increase should bring additional revenue of about six billion euros. Another four billion euros are to be saved in other areas. Where and how this should happen is still open. It is presumed that, among other things, the expenses for doctors and hospitals should be saved. If it is not saved, the health system threatens a deficit of around eleven billion euros.

The equal distribution of the increased contribution rate met with the employer's president Dieter Hundt to strong criticism. Compared to the "Bild am Sonntag" Hundt accused the black-yellow coalition to break election promises. Employers should not be charged additionally. Rather, only workers should pay the higher contribution rates. It can therefore be assumed that the equal share of employers will once again be debated. Whether a final agreement will be reached on Tuesday can be considered unlikely. Too much CSU and FDP face confrontational. (Sb)

Also read:
Additional contributions should double
Health insurance contributions are increased
Reorganization of the drug market approved
Additional contributions health insurance also with ALG II

Picture: Jörg Siebauer