Reinhard Brandl, the parliamentary group leader for CSU in the Bundestag, indicated that the Green Care and Pensions Insurance (GKV) reform package proposed by Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) still presents several issues needing further discussion. Speaking to the TV channel “Welt” on Friday, Brandl stated that the government is currently in a “coordination phase” where various perspectives are being contributed. He added that once the package reaches parliament, hopefully around April 29th, it will be examined closely.
Specifically, he believes that raising the contribution assessment ceiling by 300 euros sends the wrong signal. “One of our core concerns is ensuring that we do not place further burdens on employees and employers” he noted. “We aim to create incentives for increased employment, and we will examine this aspect closely as well”. While Brandl avoided demanding the complete removal of specific elements, such as the unchanged contribution assessment ceiling, he stressed the importance of maintaining foundational principles across the entire package. “We will review it holistically, as we have guiding principles. One of these principles is that we must avoid additional burdens on employers and employees wherever it is possible”.
The planned substantial discontinuation of family coverage also requires discussion, according to Brandl. “As the CSU, we see ourselves as a family party, and we want to strengthen families and the bonds within them” he explained. “It is also true that in a marriage, one partner assumes responsibility for the other and will naturally have to contribute financially to their care in an emergency. We wish to honor that commitment”.
Furthermore, Brandl reaffirmed the CSU’s ongoing desire to exclude costs associated with recipients of the basic citizen’s income (Bürgergeld) from the statutory health insurance system. He characterized this as a “honest shift” arguing that these are costs that the taxpayer, not only the legally insured, should bear. “To bring honesty into the debate, we also want cost honesty within the system. In our view, cost honesty requires that the taxpayer shares the costs for Bürgergeld recipients. However, ultimately, we must reach a comprehensive agreement with the SPD”.
