In a significant legislative move, the German Parliament has approved a resolution to reorganise healthcare expenditures.
This decision will directly affect the daily lives of residents across the country, with particular implications for the Kurdish diaspora living in Germany. The bill, passed following intense parliamentary debate, now awaits final approval from the Federal Council (Bundesrat) before taking effect.
Under the new provisions, patients will be required to cover a larger share of their medication and treatment costs.
For instance, the co-payment for prescription drugs at pharmacies, which previously ranged from 5 to 10 euros, will increase to between 7.5 and 15 euros. Simultaneously, government subsidies for dental care and restorations are set to be reduced.
Another segment of the reform targets spousal health insurance. While previously spouses could be included under one another’s insurance plan without additional premiums, this will now change.
Only families with children under the age of 12 or those serving as caregivers for a sick relative will remain exempt from additional costs. Those who do not meet these specific criteria will be required to pay higher contributions starting in 2028.
This new parliamentary decision is part of the German government’s broader efforts to manage public spending and curb the budget deficit within the healthcare sector—a sector that has faced mounting pressure in recent years due to rising medical service costs.
For the Kurdish diaspora, who represent a significant portion of the foreign population in Germany, these changes are viewed as a financial shift that will necessitate new long-term planning to manage future healthcare expenses.