Reform
Health insurers' chief demands abolition of voluntary services
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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.
A Drees study reveals that 35% of people retiring between 2012 and 2020 saw their living standards rise, with retirees now faring almost as well as workers. Three COR-commissioned studies confirm the benefits of raising the legal retirement age, an economically sound but politically charged option.
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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.
South Korea's National Assembly, led by the ruling Democratic Party, passed a revision to the Constitutional Court Act, allowing the court to review lower court rulings, including finalized Supreme Court decisions. The bill passed 162-63 after the main opposition's filibuster ended. While the ruling party claims it protects people's rights, the opposition accuses it of undermining judicial independence.
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Egypt's Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kouchouk, announced an expanded partnership with the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) to reinforce economic and fiscal policymaking, streamline procedures, enhance public services, and strengthen engagement with citizens and investors. A cooperation protocol was signed between the two entities to establish a structured framework for collaboration. The agreement seeks to leverage the center's research capabilities to assess the impact of government initiatives.
Over six years after the 2019 reform, Brazil's pension deficit keeps rising, according to a Folha de S.Paulo analysis. The combined shortfall of INSS, civil servants, and military jumped from R$ 271.7 billion in 2015 to R$ 442 billion in 2025. The piece argues that further adjustments are essential for fiscal sustainability and intergenerational justice.
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In an open letter, tax expert Mon Abrea urges President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to overhaul the Philippine tax system beyond just abolishing the travel tax. The letter highlights that Filipinos pay multiple taxes but receive inadequate public services and economic opportunities. It calls for comprehensive reforms to restore trust in government.
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