During the talks on cost‑cutting measures for the statutory health insurance scheme, the German Labour Ministry, led by SPD’s Bärbel Bas, has apparently declined to take over health‑insurance fees for citizens receiving Bürgergeld (the new basic living allowance). The claim comes from the news portal Politico, citing sources within government circles.
The refusal was also echoed in the Labour Ministry’s discussions with the health‑sector’s expert commission, set up by the Health Ministry to stabilise the statutory system. The commission’s chairman pointed to the already tight public finances.
Anne‑Kathrin Klemm, chair of the umbrella body for sickness funds (BKK‑Verbands), told Politico that the Labour Ministry had been very clear in its talks with the finance commission that there was no room for a takeover of the costs. “I would wish for a cost transfer, but I do not think it is realistic” Klemm said. If the savings potential of about €10 billion were fully realised, the measure could almost single‑handedly solve the statutory health insurance’s fiscal challenges.
When Politico asked for a comment, the Labour Ministry refused to speak about the internal government commission, saying it would not comment on “intergovernmental bodies”. Several CDU politicians-including Health Minister Nina Warken and Secretary‑General Carsten Linnemann-had called for a full cost takeover.
