The Left party sees the proposals from the Expert Commission on stabilizing health insurance funds as placing an unequal burden on patients. Sören Pellmann, chair of the Left’s parliamentary group, told T‑Online that the suggestions contain “many bitter pills” and effectively serve as a cut‑back program for insured citizens. He added that, although the health minister still insists that reforms must not be one‑sided and should affect all sectors, measures such as ending family insurance, reducing subsidies for dental care, and raising co‑payments are purely unilateral and hit only those insured.
The Left calls for the financing of the system to be put on “solid footing” by ensuring that those who have more “strong shoulders” contribute an adequate share. Pellmann criticized the fact that the wealthy contribute a noticeably smaller proportion of their income than average earners, while landlords and large investors pay nothing at all.
