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.

Awọn iroyin ti o ni ibatan

Press conference photo of health insurance chief Andreas Gassen calling for abolition of voluntary services to save 1 billion euros amid 12 billion euro gap.
Àwòrán tí AI ṣe

Health insurers' chief demands abolition of voluntary services

Ti AI ṣe iroyin Àwòrán tí AI ṣe

Andreas Gassen, chairman of the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung, calls for the complete elimination of voluntary additional services provided by statutory health insurance funds to achieve savings. He estimates the potential savings at nearly one billion euros per year. This comes amid a looming financing gap of twelve billion euros in the statutory health insurance system.

In response to last week's Finance Commission on Health report, German Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) plans to implement only select proposals. She rejects abolishing free co-insurance for childless spouses under six years old and advocates exemptions for caregiving relatives.

Ti AI ṣe iroyin

Markus Blumenthal-Beier, head of the German house doctors' association, calls on statutory health insurers to cut their administrative costs. He proposes halving them mid-term rather than restricting patient care. CSU politician Klaus Holetschek advises seeking cooperations and mergers.

Andreas Gassen, head of the Kassenärztlicher Bundesverband, advocates for closing more hospitals and expanding ambulatory care in Germany. He criticizes health insurers' cost-cutting plans and demands higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol, plus a sugar tax. The revenues should be earmarked for the health system.

Ti AI ṣe iroyin

German Health Minister Nina Warken is calling for swift implementation of a new law allowing annual prescriptions for chronically ill patients. The measure aims to cut unnecessary doctor visits without raising costs for insurers or contributors. Yet, no concrete agreement on the details has been reached so far.

Two days before the crucial vote at the National Assembly on the 2026 social security budget, the government is preparing a possible amendment to increase health spending by 3% to win over the Ecologists. The bill includes the suspension of the retirement reform but faces strong opposition from the right and far right. Ministers warn of a political, economic, and social crisis if it is rejected.

Ti AI ṣe iroyin

Monthly out-of-pocket costs for nursing homes in Germany have risen further at the start of 2026. According to AOK and vdek data, the national average in the first year is around 3200 to 3245 euros. Insurers' associations are calling for reform to limit the burden.

 

 

 

Ojú-ìwé yìí nlo kuki

A nlo kuki fun itupalẹ lati mu ilọsiwaju wa. Ka ìlànà àṣírí wa fun alaye siwaju sii.
Kọ