The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is calling for amendments to the statutory health insurance (GKV) reform in the Bundestag. In the current draft reform bill, there is "an imbalance to the detriment of the statutorily insured," SPD Parliamentary Managing Director Dirk Wiese said on Tuesday on ZDF's morning show.
The SPD wants to "take another look at this during the ongoing parliamentary process before the summer recess." The reform must be socially just and balanced, he emphasized.
Wiese is particularly critical of the planned cuts to sick pay benefits. "We actually have real concerns about that. But this can be solved differently," he stated.
There must also be "a compromise" on the healthcare costs for those receiving basic security benefits, according to Wiese. It cannot be the case that the statutorily insured alone pay for these costs, the SPD politician stressed. Privately insured individuals as well as civil servants must also contribute to the financing.
The coalition is moving "toward each other" on this issue, Wiese said. "We have the clear goal of finding an agreement." The SPD wants to conclude the GKV reform "together with our coalition partner" in the Bundestag by summer.
First, however, the Federal Cabinet is scheduled to approve the draft legislation on Wednesday. After that, the parliamentary process will begin. Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) had presented the draft almost two weeks ago. The goal is to bring the deficit-ridden health insurance funds out of the red and prevent further contribution increases.
The statutory health insurance funds - and thus the insured - currently pay a large portion of the insurance costs for basic security recipients. There are demands from both the Union and the SPD for a higher share from tax revenues. However, due to budget constraints, this has so far met with rejection from the SPD-led Federal Ministry of Finance.
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