The Commission on Health Finance offered mixed feedback regarding Health Minister Nina Warkens’ proposed savings program. While the commission’s deputy chairman, Ferdinand Gerlach-and a director at the Institute of General Medicine at Goethe University Frankfurt-acknowledged that the Minister had adopted many suggestions from the expert body, he called this aspect “satisfactory”.
However, Gerlach expressed significant criticism, particularly concerning the planned increase of the contribution assessment ceiling by 300 euros. The Commission had advised against this move, warning that such an action could trigger a large migration of people out of the public health insurance system and into private coverage. Gerlach stated that “permanently driving high earners out of the statutory pension system is a risk”.
Furthermore, the commission highlighted the danger of what is known as “wage shifting”. Although the costs associated with raising the contribution ceiling would technically be split “on paper” between employees and employers, Gerlach cautioned that this setup would negatively affect workers over time. He warned that higher costs for employers in the long run would result in slower wage growth for employees, effectively placing a double burden on contributors.