Health care reform: medical health insurance corporations for larger taxes on alcohol and cigarettes | EUROtoday

Higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol would make sense from the angle of medical health insurance corporations. “It would be better to have slightly more expensive beer and cigarettes than the billion-dollar complications from drinking and smoking,” mentioned the pinnacle of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, Oliver Blatt, to the “Rheinische Post”. He would additionally like a brand new tax on sugary drinks.

Blatt was referring to options from the knowledgeable fee for well being care reform. Their 66 suggestions have a complete quantity of 42 billion euros. Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) now desires to look at what might be applied. A monetary hole of round 15 billion euros in statutory medical health insurance is anticipated as early as 2027.

Blatt additionally welcomed the consultants’ concept of ​​getting a second opinion earlier than costly knee or hip operations. The affiliation consultant was skeptical about different suggestions, such because the abolition of non-contributory co-insurance for spouses with out babies. “In other places, more potential savings could be achieved more easily and quickly,” he mentioned.

Blatt criticized statements by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians that they could provide fewer appointments within the occasion of cuts in charge surcharges. Such “threats” weren’t applicable, mentioned Blatt. Doctors should face modifications.

When requested concerning the financial savings contribution from the medical health insurance corporations, Blatt identified that the medical health insurance corporations have already been requested to make a financial savings contribution of 100 million euros. At the identical time, he mentioned: “I am very sure that in ten years we will probably no longer have the same number of health insurance companies.” Economic mergers are already being examined in the present day.