In view of the health funds‘ surplus billions, Volker Kauder (CDU) is considering lowering the contribution rate by 0.1 to 15.4 percent. At the beginning of last year the coalition had raised the health insurance contribution rate from 14.9 to 15.5 percent.
Kauder, a factional leader of the Unions party, rejects abolishing surgery fees as demanded by the FDP. The paramount goal should be to stabilize the health system permanently. Health fund expenses would be rising because of population development.
Surgery fees generate two billion Euro yearly. According to studies, the original goal of reducing unnecessary visits to the doctor has not been achieved.
[ilink url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/unionsfraktion-lehnt-fdp-vorschlag-ab-kauder-gegen-streichung-der-praxisgebuehr-1.1304885] link to source (Süddeutsche Zeitung)[/ilink]