CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn has proposed accelerating the shift toward tax funding for the healthcare costs of recipients of the “Bürgergeld” (Citizen’s Income). He argues that it is unjust for mandatory health insurance (GKV) contributors to bear the full burden of these costs.
Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Spahn called for immediate reviews to find a swifter path to state funding. He pointed to a significant discrepancy in recent economic figures: while wages and pensions have risen by about 20 percent over the past years, the basic standard rate (“Regelsatz”) has seen an increase of roughly 30 percent.
According to Spahn’s proposal, if the basic standard rate were adjusted to match the level of wage increases-a change he deemed “only fair”-the resulting savings could be used to partially fund GKV contributions for “Bürgergeld” beneficiaries. While this billions-strong sum would still benefit the recipients by covering their healthcare costs, Spahn emphasized that this would represent a much quicker transition to tax-based funding than currently planned.
Spahn also issued a warning regarding the legislative process, cautioning against reintroducing any healthcare reform packages without specifying a concrete financial counterbalance. He asserted that costs must align with revenues. For any substantive change to pass, he argued, proponents must explicitly outline where equal savings will be found, as this is the only way to secure stable contributions.
