The Union criticizes the planned increase in the contribution assessment limits in health and pension insurance and calls for reforms. The FDP advocates an automatic relief mechanism, while the SPD considers the planned step to be necessary. The Left and the Sahra Wagenknecht coalition have more far-reaching reform proposals.
Union and FDP criticize
Tino Sorge (CDU), the health policy spokesman for the Union faction in the Bundestag, criticized the planned increase in the contribution assessment limits. He told the “Welt” that the “traffic light coalition lacks the strength and consensus for reforms” in both statutory health insurance (GKV) and pension insurance. Sorge suggests that relief of around ten billion euros could be achieved if the costs for non-insurance services were adequately offset. A further five billion euros could be saved by reducing the VAT on pharmaceuticals.
Pascal Kober (FDP), Social policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, expressed rather quiet criticism. He explained that linking the assessment limits to wage development was a tried and tested instrument and would prevent political gamesmanship. At the same time, however, he called for the introduction of automatic mechanisms to relieve the burden on citizens, such as in the case of bracket creep.
SPD sees increase as necessary
Martin Rosemann (SPD), Social policy spokesman for the SPD, stressed to the “Welt” that the increase in income limits was a necessary step. Without an adjustment of the assessment limits, insured persons would receive lower pensions despite rising wages, as contributions are only collected up to the assessment limit.
Left and Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance call for far-reaching reforms
Matthias W. Birkwald (Die Linke), pension policy spokesman for his parliamentary group, proposes introducing an employment insurance scheme into which all employed people would pay contributions up to four times the average salary. He also calls for the contribution assessment ceiling in pension insurance to be doubled.
Andrej Hunko, The alliance’s health policy spokesperson, Sahra Wagenknecht, is calling for a fundamental reform of health insurance. He is aiming to abolish the contribution assessment limit and reduce the number of statutory health insurance companies. According to him, this could reduce contributions by up to four percentage points.
✨ edited by AI, September 17, 2024 17:58.
