Former federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) criticised the CDU’s economic council proposal that patients should pay dental services out of pocket, even when covered by health insurance. “Our goal must be to deliver essential services more efficiently, not to privatise them” Lauterbach told the “Rheinische Post” on Tuesday. He warned that constant public uncertainty caused by proposals for social cuts without accompanying reforms to drive economic growth could even strengthen the AfD.
The umbrella body of statutory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) responded cautiously. “This proposal is part of a long list of ideas about how various actors envision a reform of statutory health insurance” a GKV spokesperson explained. “Please understand that we cannot comment further. We are instead focusing on the initial results of the Health Finance Commission, which should be released soon”.
