The financial benefits expected from Health Minister Nina Warken’s (CDU) planned austerity package for statutory health insurance funds may result in significantly lower revenue than projections made by expert commissions. According to calculations by the IGES institute, the reform of the family contribution scheme is projected to generate only around €2.2 billion in additional revenue, as reported by the “Handelsblatt”. This figure contrasts sharply with the €4.4 billion in savings that the Commission for Stabilizing the Financing of Statutory Health Insurance had originally anticipated.
The discrepancy stems from a key modification in the Minister’s proposed model. Unlike the commission’s suggestion, which involved a fixed minimum contribution exceeding €200 for spouses without personal income, Warken is instead proposing an income-dependent contribution rate of 3.5%.
Economist Martin Albrecht told the “Handelsblatt” that, “According to our calculations, this would halve the revenue effect compared to the commission’s proposal”. He further noted that the proposed deduction is “so-called income-related and is therefore less critically social-politically than the commission’s proposal”.
The new regulation is also slated to begin in 2028, which means the realization of these savings will be delayed. Minister Warken announced the measure during a press conference on Tuesday. According to IGES estimates, approximately 1.3 million married couples would be affected, though exceptions are planned for parents of young children or family caregivers.