Incoming Health Minister Urged to Ease Burden on Insured

Social welfare organizations are calling on the designated German Health Minister, Carsten Linnemann, to advocate for the interests of health insurance contributors. They urge him to push for a system where societal costs within health and long-term care insurance are borne by all taxpayers, rather than solely by those paying insurance premiums.

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He must push for the implementation that general societal tasks in health and nursing insurance are borne by all taxpayers, not just by the contributors.

"This would be a step towards greater fairness," stated the president of the VdK social association, emphasizing that Linnemann must have the courage to make unpopular decisions within the cabinet to achieve this. Similar sentiments were echoed by Michaela Engelmeier, chairwoman of the Sozialverband Deutschland, who told the Funke Mediengruppe that the federal government should cover non-insurance-related benefits, such as healthcare costs for recipients of basic security benefits, through tax revenue.

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This would be a step towards greater fairness.

Engelmeier stressed that Linnemann must fulfill his pre-election promises, potentially including reducing social contributions to 40%. She asserted that Linnemann's "first act must be to rethink the health reform, which primarily involves significant benefit cuts and increased burdens for the insured." Additionally, she noted that the upcoming long-term care reform needs to be implemented promptly but must not become a "savings reform."

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The federal government must take over insurance-independent services – such as health costs for basic security recipients – and finance them from taxes.

Katja Kipping, managing director of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, also outlined expectations for the new minister, stating that Linnemann's success will be measured by his "commitment to healthcare for all" and his support for vulnerable groups. The calls come after Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a significant cabinet reshuffle, appointing former CDU General Secretary Linnemann to head the Health Ministry.

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He must be measured by his promises before the election, such as reducing social contributions to 40 percent.