Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has triggered a broad debate, and raised questions, with his comments about possible changes to health insurance. CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Hoffmann rejected the interpretation on Tuesday that the chancellor wants to put Germany’s entire dual system of statutory and private health insurance under review. He said the coalition was only discussing improvements to access to medical appointments. Separately, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) called for fair access to healthcare.
Speaking to journalists in Berlin about medical appointments for people with statutory health insurance, Hoffmann said the coalition had already agreed that something needs to be done, as many people with statutory insurance currently feel disadvantaged. He said the coalition would soon reach an agreement on the issue. Hoffmann left open how such an improvement could be implemented, including whether this could involve restrictions on preferential appointment scheduling for privately insured patients.
Hoffmann stressed that Merz had not questioned the “coexistence of these two systems.” A government spokesperson had made a similar statement on Monday. Hoffmann acknowledged that the chancellor “perhaps could have focused his comments more” on the specific issue of appointment scheduling.
On Monday, following electoral setbacks for his party, Merz suggested that his position on health insurance could change. Speaking in Berlin, he said the “coexistence of private and statutory health insurance” was viewed by many people as a “problem of fairness.” He said he recognised the problem and was willing to make changes.
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) said patients should receive medical appointments “solely according to medical urgency,” regardless of whether they are covered by statutory or private health insurance. According to the association, this would require legislation establishing a daily updated appointment platform on which medical practices would be required to make a specified proportion of their appointments for patients with statutory health insurance available.
“And anyone who wants fair conditions and genuine equal treatment should also ensure that patients are no longer asked whether they have statutory or private health insurance when appointments are allocated,” said Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis, the association’s deputy chairwoman. She said this could create fair and needs-based access to healthcare for everyone in the long term.
Andreas Gassen, head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), told the Rheinische Post that there were currently “no qualitative differences in healthcare for people with statutory and private insurance” in Germany. At the same time, he warned against abolishing private health insurance. That was “more of an idea of the political left,” he said. Such a move would not solve the problems, “quite apart from the legal, financial and time-related hurdles that are virtually insurmountable.”
Former Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) called for the introduction of a citizens’ insurance system. “That would be fair,” he told the Tagesspiegel. Such reforms were what was expected from his party, Lauterbach said. “Not simply cuts.” Green Party health policy spokesman Janosch Dahmen told Welt that Merz recognising unequal treatment between people with statutory and private insurance was “right and long overdue.” “Only the right diagnosis does not yet make the right treatment,” Dahmen added.
Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge criticised the government’s communication. It could not be the case that Merz “simply philosophises a little and then that’s it again,” she said. According to Dröge, this only created more uncertainty and frustration. The Greens have put forward their own proposal. “It doesn’t have to be the whole citizens’ insurance system straight away,” Dröge said. “A first pragmatic approach would be to include private health insurance in the risk adjustment system of statutory health insurance.”
Watch our video to understand the debate over Germany’s statutory and private health insurance system following Merz’s comments.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
