Health insurance: Union against increasing cash contributions for high earners

The Union faction has rejected an SPD advance for higher health insurance contributions for high earners. “This makes work and performance unnecessarily expensive and it damages Germany,” said the deputy union faction leader Albert Stegemann (CDU) of the German press agency responsible for health policy.

In the coalition agreement, it was agreed to avoid burdens for the contributors. “Therefore, we will fundamentally deal with the financing together with the SPD. In particular, we have to make the system more efficient and thereby reduce costs.”

SPD politician: no bans

The SPD health expert Christos Pantazis had proposed because of the tense financial situation of the health insurers that high earners should pay more into statutory health insurance. Specifically, he had pleaded for an increase in the so -called contribution ceiling by around 2,500 euros to the level of the assessment limit for pension insurance. “We are not allowed to impose a bans on thinking for sustainable stabilization of the SHI finances,” said Pantazi’s “Bild”.

The contribution ceiling refers to the maximum gross wage until the social security contributions are paid. Income above this limit remains free of contributions. It is currently 5,512.50 euros per month in health insurance. According to the Federal Statistical Office, almost 30 percent of full -time employees come to an annual gross in the amount of the contribution ceiling or above and would be affected by an increase.

Significantly less net of gross

“BILD”, citing calculations by the Federation of taxpayers, reported that, for example, a single with a monthly gross of EUR 406 more per year would have to pay to the health insurance company, a single with a gross of EUR 1,170 more a year. A family of four with a gross of 6,500 euros per month would have 865 euros less net a year, at 7,500 euros gross it would be almost 1,700 euros less.