The Young Union (JU) is pushing for the complete funding of healthcare costs for recipients of the “Bürgergeld” (citizen’s basic security) through tax revenue in the future, aiming to implement the recommendations of an expert commission. Johannes Winkel, the JU leader, told the “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition) that the annual cost of providing benefits to Bürgergeld recipients, estimated at twelve billion euros, “cannot simply be passed on to contributors”.
Winkel added that this funding level is no longer justifiable given the required reforms. According to the Bundestag member, “if the state decides that this group of people should receive the same level of care as those who pay contributions, then the state must also finance it”. He stated that this point currently represents “a major social injustice within the social security system”.
While Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has taken several proposals from the expert commission, totaling twenty billion euros, Winkel noted that the federal government generally needs this kind of reformative courage. However, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) has not yet committed to covering the healthcare costs for Bürgergeld recipients through the federal budget.
