A proposal outlining five immediate actions has been presented by German Green party representatives with the stated goal of stabilizing the finances of the health and care insurance system and preventing future contribution increases. The initiative, detailed in a paper reported by “Tagesspiegel”, seeks to avoid cutbacks and maintain the social safety net.
The proposal addresses recent concerns surrounding potential adjustments to care level classifications. Green party parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann emphasized the need for social reform rather than erosion of existing provisions. She critiqued plans for alterations to care level 1, arguing they create uncertainty rather than promoting positive change.
The five-point plan, developed by Haßelmann alongside her deputy Misbah Khan and fellow health and care policy specialists Janosch Dahmen, Linda Heitmann and Simone Fischer, suggests a shift in funding responsibility. The proposal suggests covering certain non-insurance related costs currently borne by health and care insurers through general taxation. This includes healthcare provision for citizens receiving basic income support (Bürgergeld) and pension contributions for those providing informal care.
The Green party is also pressing for structural reforms within the healthcare sector. Specifically, they are calling on Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) to implement the previously agreed-upon hospital reform package, modernize emergency care provisions and introduce a primary care physician system. Furthermore, the proposal advocates for stricter regulation of the pricing of innovative pharmaceuticals to manage associated costs.