Klingbeil pledges injection of funds into health insurance tax
Rewritten Article:
Klingbeil promises cash influx for troubled health and care insurance
After a distress call from the Health Minister, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil promises to dip into the federal budget to help the ailing health and care insurance systems. But he cautions that this isn't a long-term solution. The exact amount for the subsidy remains a mystery.
Lars Klingbeil, the Federal Finance Minister, spoke with the German Press Agency (dpa), stating that the present predicament of the health and care insurance systems necessitates stabilization. However, he underscored that constant bailouts with more tax money isn't the answer.
The SPD leader referred to the commitment in the coalition agreement, which calls for collaborating with professionals to design "brave and comprehensive" restructuring plans for the social security systems. Prior to this, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken demanded billions for both insurance systems to enhance their financial stability and prevent further contribution rate hikes. Both insurance sectors are running in the red.
Warken reminded Klingbeil about the massive shortfalls the federal government owes to both insurance systems. These debts partially stem from unpaid contributions for citizens' allowance recipients and non-insurance-related services from the pandemic period. Warken estimated the shortfall for citizens' allowance recipients at ten billion euros and the federal pandemic debts at nearly six billion euros. Klingbeil, when questioned, did not disclose the size of the federal aid to the dpa.
Klingbeil emphasized that those who work hard should rely on a robust social security system. He proposed the need for more innovative solutions than just extending working years or slashing healthcare services. He also advocated for open discussions about pension contributions, such as including civil servants in the statutory pension scheme, a proposal previously made by labor minister Barbara Bas. Klingbeil expressed his openness to such discussions, although the Chancellery had earlier rejected the proposal, claiming it was not part of the coalition agreement.
- Sources: ntv.de, mau
- Keywords: Lars Klingbeil, Health insurance companies, Statutory health insurance, Care insurance, Nina Warken
Insights:- Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has pledged to provide initial financial assistance from the federal budget to stabilize struggling health and long-term care insurance systems, with the exact amount yet to be disclosed[1][2].- Klingbeil supports the use of federal funds as a temporary measure to prevent further premium hikes and collapse in these critical sectors[1][2].- The federal government is responsible for billions in outstanding debts to both health and long-term care insurance systems, including unpaid contributions for citizens' allowance recipients and non-insurance-related services due to the pandemic[1].- Klingbeil has announced plans for comprehensive structural reforms of social insurance systems, including health, care, and pension systems, focusing on sustainable solutions beyond tax increases or service cuts[2].
- Lars Klingbeil, the Federal Finance Minister, has promised to provide funds from the federal budget to help stabilize the ailing health and care insurance systems, although the exact amount remains unknown.
- Klingbeil believes that innovative solutions, such as discussing pension contributions, are needed beyond extending working years or slashing healthcare services, to ensure a robust social security system for hardworking individuals.
- The federal government has substantial outstanding debts to both health and long-term care insurance systems, stemming from unpaid contributions for citizens' allowance recipients and non-insurance-related services during the pandemic.
