Health insurance providers are pushing the federal government to gradually assume responsibility for covering the healthcare costs of recipients of the Bürgergeld (Citizen’s Income Benefit). According to Oliver Blatt, Chairman of the GKV-Spitzenverband (Leading Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds), the sector proposes a phased model for this takeover. Blatt acknowledged that the federal government cannot immediately allocate the required 12 billion euros, stating that a gradual, structured buildup of adequate funding should be achievable.
Currently, the federal government pays the funds 144 euros per Bürgergeld recipient every month. However, this amount is insufficient to cover the actual costs, leaving the statutory health insurance funds with an estimated annual burden of 12 billion euros. Due to this financial strain, the GKV-Spitzenverband filed a lawsuit against the federal government at the end of 2025.
As a solution, Blatt presented a staged transition plan. He proposed that the federal government initially pay four billion euros, increasing the contribution to eight billion euros in 2028, and ultimately covering the full cost of healthcare through all taxpayers starting in 2029. He added that such a phased approach would be manageable even given the government’s current difficult budgetary situation. Furthermore, according to Blatt, any additional revenue generated by this process must be used entirely to relieve the burden on those who pay premiums.
