The German Association for Social Welfare (SoVD) has criticized the planned significant restriction on the contribution-free supplementary insurance for spouses in the statutory health insurance system. Michaela Engelmeier, the chairwoman of the SoVD, told “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that the “quasi-abolition of the contribution-free family insurance is a completely wrong signal”. She added that this benefit is vital for people in lower income brackets and thus constitutes a key pillar of the principle of solidarity. She warned that eliminating this benefit would cause severe social hardship, disproportionately affecting these families, and suggested that an exception for children under seven years old could not serve as adequate compensation. Furthermore, Engelmeier argued that the federal government must first fulfill its own obligations by financing the billions of euros required for people receiving basic security benefits through tax funds. She stated that this is a task for the entire society and cannot be borne solely by the contributors to the statutory health insurance. Consequently, she urged the ministries of Warken and Klingbeil to urgently renegotiate the matter.
Politics
