The leaders of the Union parliamentary groups from southern and eastern Germany are calling on the federal government to make improvements to the reform of health insurance and long-term care insurance. In a joint resolution, the parliamentary group leaders from Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia are calling on Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) to pay greater attention to the needs of family caregivers. They also demand that health insurance coverage for recipients of the citizen’s income be financed with taxpayer money.
Vogt: Social Security contributions must not be allowed to spiral out of control
“Social security contributions must not continue to slip away from people and businesses. Every additional contribution point is a punitive tax on work and performance. Anyone who wants to make Germany more competitive and fairer again must reduce the burden on labor,” said Tobias Vogt, chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the Baden-Württemberg state parliament. That is why non-insurance-related benefits must be removed from the social security funds. “Health insurance for recipients of the citizen’s income is a responsibility for society as a whole and belongs in the federal budget. There, funding is more broadly based—through general taxes on income, consumption, profits, and investment income.”
Healthcare and long-term care reforms are necessary because our welfare state can only remain effective with sound finances, emphasized Daniel Peters, CDU parliamentary group leader from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Now, he said, it is crucial to “wisely refine” the reforms that have been set in motion through the parliamentary process and to “distribute the burdens fairly.” This also includes Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) finally settling the billions in COVID-related debts owed to long-term care insurance, rather than continuing to leave them to be borne by contributors.”
