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German Health Commission Proposes Eliminating Spousal Free Insurance and Raising Co-Payments to Close Billions Gap

12 articles | Updated 1h ago | Created 1d ago
Berlin, Germany TRANSLATED

A newly formed commission of health experts has recommended eliminating the free spousal insurance benefit for married couples, alongside increasing patient co-payments. These measures are part of a comprehensive 42-billion euro savings package designed specifically to plug massive funding deficits within Germany's statutory sickness funds (Krankenkassen). The proposal aims to stabilize financial sustainability by shifting costs toward individuals and reducing administrative redundancies in the healthcare system structure currently facing billions euros per year shortfall

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    The German health insurance commission has proposed a billion-euro savings package to prevent the collapse of statutory health insurers.
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    Key measures include abolishing tax-free supplementary coverage for spouses and increasing patient co-payments, alongside introducing taxes on sugar products. Other proposals involve raising practice fees (Praxisgebühr 2.0) and implementing an additional levy specifically targeting healthcare costs.
[Mar 30] The commission recommended the abolition of tax-free supplementary insurance for spouses as part of a broader savings plan to stop billion-euro losses in health insurers.
[Mar 30] The commission proposed increasing patient co-payments and introducing taxes on sugar products as part of a €42 billion savings package.
[Mar 30] Proposals include raising practice fees to version 2.0 (Praxisgebühr 2.0) and implementing an additional healthcare levy.