The Greens see people without health insurance being left in the lurch by the state. "Anyone who is ill needs reliable support. It is appalling that medical care for people without insurance cover in Saxony depends on whether there happens to be an aid organization nearby," explained Thomas Löser, member of the state parliament. The Free State is thus shirking its responsibility. Germany is obliged by the UN Social Covenant to guarantee all people access to healthcare.
No state-wide support services
Löser had submitted a minor question to parliament on the subject. The MP criticized the lack of nationwide support services and the fact that virtually no costs for emergency treatment have been reimbursed under the "emergency aid paragraph" in recent years. This paragraph from the German Social Security Code regulates the entitlement to reimbursement for a service that someone provides in an emergency and where, for example, the social welfare provider could not be informed of the emergency situation in good time. These are often hospitals providing emergency care.
According to estimates, around 40,000 people in Saxony are affected
The Greens referred to estimates that around 40,000 people in Saxony live without or with inadequate health insurance. These include people with contribution debts, EU citizens in precarious employment, homeless people, people without papers and those without a regular residence status. According to the Greens, many of those affected receive no medical help at all or only at a very late stage, which leads to serious illnesses and high follow-up costs.
Greens demand introduction of an anonymous treatment certificate
"Saxony needs a comprehensive network of state support so that people without health insurance are no longer left out in the cold," emphasized Löser. His party is therefore calling for the introduction of a state-wide anonymous treatment certificate and the expansion of the clearing center of the "Saxon Anonymous Treatment Certificate" association. The estimate of the number of people affected comes from the association. In addition, binding cooperation with doctors, hospitals and social service providers is required, it said.
The Federal Statistical Office recently published figures on the subject. According to these figures, around 72,000 people in Germany had no health insurance and no other entitlement to health care in 2023 - less than 0.1 percent of the population. The majority of those affected were men (61%). Three quarters of all people without such cover were people without a job, such as pensioners and students aged 26 and over. In Germany, health insurance is compulsory for all persons residing in the country.
Copyright 2025, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
