Additional contributions as hidden capitation?

Rösler health care reform: additional contributions as a hidden capitation?

(07.07.2010) Federal Health Minister Philipp Rösler speaks of a reform in which the health insurance contribution rates increase by 0.6 percent next year, in which the employer's share is frozen and all additional costs of insured persons are compensated by additional contributions. Thus, the current plans of the black-yellow coalition Rösler promise to improve the German health care, but not to increase the price, diametrically opposed. The opposition demands Rösler's resignation.

The employer's share should remain at 7.3 percent and the door should be wide open for the coffers to ask for additional contributions, since the previous limits that they may be only one percent of income, and should be recalculated annually. The parliamentary group of the left called the additional contribution as a jailed capitation. The Greens, who are now introducing the „Capitation system“ to see.

Criticism comes not only from the opposition, but even from the employer's camp. Employer President Dieter Hundt stated that the terms of the coalition agreement and recent commitments made by the coalition were not met by the current plans. Even the chairman of the umbrella association of statutory health insurance, Dr. med. Doris Pfeiffer, thinks that „with a more dedicated austerity package“ some of the additional burdens could have been avoided, „without the care of the patients would have suffered.“ But the coalition had to stipulate a social compensation for pensioners and low-income earners. „More net than gross“ was always the motto of the FDP. The now published plans of the coalition under the FDP Federal Minister of Health Philipp Rösler, definitely mean the opposite. (Tf)

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