CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn has called for a quicker transition to funding health costs for recipients of the basic citizen benefit (“Bürgergeld”) through taxes, proposing the basic benefit rate as a leverage point in the discussion.
Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Spahn stated that many people find it unjust that current statutory health insurance subscribers are primarily expected to bear the contributions for those receiving the basic citizen benefit. He urged that the shift towards tax funding needed to accelerate.
Spahn highlighted a significant discrepancy in increases over recent years: while wages and pensions have risen by about 20%, the basic benefit rate increased by 30%, a difference he deemed “significantly greater”. He suggested that if the basic benefit rate were adjusted to better align with wage growth-a measure he deemed fair-the resulting savings could be used to jointly fund the GKV contributions for “Bürgergeld” recipients. According to Spahn, this would still benefit the recipients by funding their health costs, but it would represent a faster and smoother entry into tax funding than currently planned.
At the same time, Spahn warned against passing a health care reform package through parliament without outlining concrete counter-financing mechanisms. “Expenditures must match revenues” he stated. He emphasized that anyone attempting to enforce changes must clearly identify where equivalent savings will come from, as only this approach can ensure stable funding levels.