The articles about the hotly debated reintroduction of a doctor’s visit fee continue to cause outrage among Nordkurier readers. Also Werner Guth from Prenzlau then wrote a letter to the editors.
Debate about financing broke out
The Uckermärker fears that the proposed three to four euros per doctor’s visit would actually hit chronically ill people hard: “But in the debate about the financing of our health system, an important aspect is completely ignored: the structural underfinancing through flat-rate contributions that do not cover costs. While working insured people and pensioners pay their health insurance contributions in full, the job center for citizens’ benefit recipients only pays 144.04 euros per month for health insurance plus 32.26 euros for health insurance Nursing care insurance.”
Werner Guth (Photo: Heiko Schulze)
However, the pensioner is certain that these flat-rate contributions do not cover costs: “The difference between the actual costs and the flat rates paid is borne by the solidarity community of all those with health insurance. The situation is even more complex for asylum seekers. In the first 36 months, they are not insured in statutory health insurance, but only receive benefits according to the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act for acute illnesses. The costs are borne by the social welfare office. Insurance is only compulsory after three years or if they are recognized as receiving citizen’s benefit – then the same applies insufficient lump sums as with other recipients of citizens’ benefit.”
Before burdening chronically ill people with additional fees, says Werner Guth, these structural financing gaps should first be closed: “A cost-covering financing of health insurance contributions by the state for all recipients of social benefits would significantly relieve the burden on the system without patients having to be asked to pay every time they visit the doctor.
Mr. Gassen’s suggestions miss the real problem. Instead of putting additional burdens on the weakest in the system, we need an honest discussion about solidarity and fair financing of our healthcare system.”
The editorial team reserves the right to reproduce excerpts from letters to the editor. Publications do not have to agree with the opinion of the editorial team. Anonymous correspondence and letters that contain pure polemics and denigrate others will not be published. Please always provide your full address and telephone number in case of any questions.
date: 2026-02-11 00:29:00