Coalition plans to abolish free co-insurance for spouses

The German federal government plans to eliminate free co-insurance for spouses in statutory health and long-term care insurance. The move aims to plug budget shortfalls at health insurance funds and will make coverage more expensive for many families. Handelsblatt learned of this from coalition sources.

Reports from Berlin indicate that statutory health and long-term care insurance could become noticeably more expensive for many families. Millions of statutorily insured individuals currently benefit from free co-insurance for their spouses. The coalition aims to abolish this provision to address budget shortfalls at the health insurance funds. Handelsblatt obtained this information from coalition circles. Economists have praised the planned measure.

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Federal Health Minister Nina Warken announces health insurance savings plans at Berlin press conference.
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Warken presents savings measures for statutory health insurance

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Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) presented far-reaching savings plans for statutory health insurance (GKV) at a press conference in Berlin on Tuesday. She intends to implement more than three-quarters of an expert commission's 66 proposals to save 20 billion euros starting next year. The funds currently face a deficit of about 15 billion euros.

The black-red coalition is considering raising the contribution surcharge for childless people in long-term care insurance by 0.1 percentage points to 0.7 percent. Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) is pushing the idea.

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As the April 29 cabinet decision approaches, Health Minister Nina Warken and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil signal openness to adjustments in the statutory health insurance savings package, originally based on the Finance Commission's 66 proposals. Following the recent draft release and coalition disputes, associations and opposition intensify criticisms.

Days before the planned cabinet decision, the SPD warns against overburdening insured individuals with Health Minister Nina Warken's savings package. The SPD demands more cuts from pharmaceutical companies and efficiency measures. The Greens have presented their own counter-concept.

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Manuela Schwesig, minister president of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has criticized federal health minister Nina Warken's plans for nursing care reform. She sees them as shifting problems onto the weakest. DAK chief Andreas Storm also called for a reform moratorium.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) detailed specific savings targets for the 2027 federal budget at a press conference in Berlin. The measures aim to close a 111 billion euro financing gap. The largest cuts target pensions at four billion euros.

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Germany's Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA) decided on Thursday to allow health insurers to cover four drugs that alleviate certain Long Covid symptoms. Previously, patients had to pay for these off-label uses themselves. The ruling eases access for the country's 74 million statutory insurees.

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