Klingbeil supports health and nursing care insurance with federal funds

Berlin – Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) has announced "fundamental and bold" structural reforms to social security, but will initially support the cash-strapped health and long-term care insurance systems with funds from the federal budget. "We are aware that the situation in long-term care and health insurance is difficult, and we need to stabilize it," the SPD leader told the "Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland" (Sunday editions). "But we cannot simply patch up the problems permanently with more and more taxpayer money," he warned. The Vice Chancellor referred to the agreement in the coalition agreement, according to which "fundamental and bold structural reforms" would be developed with experts. Previously, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) had called for billions in funding for both insurance systems to improve the financial situation and prevent further contribution rate increases. Both insurance branches are in the red. The SPD leader emphasized that hard-working individuals should be able to rely on a strong welfare state. "That's why we should be a bit more creative than just demanding that people work longer or that healthcare benefits be cut." Klingbeil defended Labor Minister Bärbel Bas's (SPD) proposal to include civil servants in the statutory pension insurance system. "Personally, I also think we can talk about who pays into the pension fund and how much," the minister said. "This is an important debate, and we need this openness."