Habeck proposes an unconventional stance on solidarity
Rewritten Article:
Health insurance contributions keep climbing upward. Right at the start of the year, statutory health insurers boosted their additional contributions more than they ever have in years. The financial gap is substantial. The Greens, led by top candidate Robert Habeck, propose that future health insurance contributions should also be payable on capital gains. For the majority of folks who save through stocks or bonds for their retirement, this is unfavorable news.
If statutory health insurance contribution bases are expanded in this manner, it would be "a stride towards more solidarity within the system," Habeck states. However, the opposite is true. The concept itself is anything but solidary.
Only those who privately save for their money would be affected. And among them, only those who are in statutory health insurance. Moreover, if compulsorily insured persons pay contributions on capital gains up to the contribution assessment ceiling, individuals with particularly high incomes are hardly affected. Why? Because their contributions are capped by the contribution assessment ceiling. Also, those who are privately insured and invest in stocks – usually the wealthier lot – would be exempted altogether.
Habeck questions why labor is taxed more than income gained from capital investments. It's correct that capital gains are taxed at a flat rate. However, the economic minister overlooks the fact that ordinary investors already channel taxed labor income into capital investments – resulting in double taxes on capital gains.
Habeck's demand for health insurance contributions on capital gains is not unique. The Greens seek to have private insurers bear a share of the hospital reform's costs that the traffic light coalition is pushing forward. Service-related contributions for benefit recipients should be financed more through general tax funds – a necessary step to alleviate the burden on both employers and insured employees.
Meanwhile, costs associated with statutory health insurance are spiraling out of control. The CEO of Techniker Krankenkasse fears that, without reforms in the healthcare system, health insurance contributions will continue to escalate rapidly. He predictions a contribution of at least 20% for the next legislative period.
In essence, it's apparent that swift action is necessary. But targeting retirees' savings is the exact wrong choice.
Enrichment Data:
The German proposal for future health insurance contributions relating to statutory health insurance (SHI) does not directly concern capital gains. Instead, it primarily focuses on contributions based on income, forming the fundamental aspect of the SHI system.
Income-based contributions efficiently allocate healthcare costs based on individuals’ earnings, ensuring fairness. Closing the gap between rich and poor remains vital, especially in the context of medical care. Essentially:
- Progressive Payments: Higher earnings mean higher contributions to the SHI system, which enables equitable access to healthcare for all earners.
- Employer Contributions: Employers match employees’ contributions, distributing healthcare funding in a shared method. This is essential for the financially responsible operation of the healthcare system.
- Cap on Contributions: Contributions are subject to a certain income threshold, preventing excessive financial burdens for high-earners, thus upholding fairness within the system.
Low-income and dependent groups confront fewer financial pressures in the SHI system, with contributions always proportionate to individual income while societal solidarity is maintained.
If the Greens' proposal for expanding health insurance contribution bases becomes a reality, it could potentially lead to a more equitable distribution of healthcare cost burden within the system during the 2025 Federal election. However, targeting retirees' savings through capital gains taxation for health insurance contributions overlooks the existing progressive payment structure and employer contributions within the statutory health insurance system, which already supports fair access to healthcare for all income levels.
