Verdi Rösler wants to cup insured?

Gesundheitssytem: Rösler wants to protect the health insurance? Today the hearing on the financing law of the statutory health insurance (GKV law) takes place. In the course of this, the United Services Union Verdi warns the federal government against making a "system change in health care" to the detriment of the insured.

The union accuses the Federal Minister of Health Philipp Rösler (FDP) to act primarily in the interests of the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession. "With this bill, Health Minister Rösler apparently wants to perpetuate as the patron saint of the pharmaceutical and medical lobby.The KV-Financing Act has become a patient plunder law provoking the resistance of all workers," said Verdi Federal Board member Ellen Paschke.

According to the plans of the Federal Minister of Health, the GKV insured in the future to pay for the cost increases in health care in the form of additional contributions, without the employers participate according to the parity system. Therefore, social organizations and trade unions speak of a "per capita lull through the back door". The employer's contribution to the statutory health insurance will be frozen from 2011 to 7.3 percent. At the same time, patients should pay for their own treatment costs by doctors in private practice and subsequently have their expenses reimbursed by the health insurance companies - as a rule only a part of them. The health insurances should be able to determine from the first of January 2011, whether and how high the additional contributions can be. Additional contributions are levied on a flat-rate basis, regardless of the regular health insurance contributions.

Rösler emphasizes that the so-called "prepayment doctor model" should not become a duty for citizens. Patients should in future choose which model they prefer. However, consumer associations see this as the beginning of a „Three-tier health“. So it could happen that private patients and prepay patients are first preferred for health care. The regular insured would in the opinion of the consumer centers in the future, the disadvantage and would have to adjust to unequal treatment, for example, in the appointment of medical appointments. "With this type of client policy in favor of established physicians, Mr. Rösler takes sick and needy people into economic hostage," said the unionist. Paschke made it clear: "The benefits in kind principle must not be shaken!" This achievement ensures that medically necessary services are undertaken without looking at the insured person's financial resources. "Comprehensive health care should not become the privilege of the rich, but must be open to all citizens," argued Paschke.

At the planned company action weeks, which take place all over Germany, the union wants to make the topic of health care a priority. Verdi calls for a functioning health system that needs more, not less, solidarity in the future. Only then could the statutory health insurance be strengthened and protected. (25.10.2010, sb)

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