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Press Release No. 41/2016 IG Metall: Strong Vote for Parity in Health Insurance Contributions

IG-Metall-Fahnen
Foto: IG Metall

4 October 2016 4 October 2016

Frankfurt am Main – IG Metall feels vindicated in its call to abolish additional contributions and return to parity in health insurance contributions. This was demonstrated by the broad participation in a petition drive and a representative survey: “Citizens want to return to equal financing of health insurance premiums. So far, more than 100,000 workers have cast their votes by signing the petition at their workplaces. These are strong signals. Politicians must act now,” said Jörg Hofmann, President of IG Metall, on Tuesday in Frankfurt.

According to the representative survey conducted in August 2016 by TNS Infratest Politikforschung on behalf of IG Metall, three-quarters (75%) of eligible German voters surveyed believe it is unjustified for employees to pay a higher contribution to statutory health insurance than their employers. Nearly nine out of ten respondents (87%) also advocated a return to the “principle of equal financing.”

Hofmann sees IG Metall’s position as confirmed with regard to the concept of universal health insurance as well: Two-thirds of those surveyed (68%) support the introduction of a universal health insurance system in which everyone—including high earners, the self-employed, and civil servants—is mandatorily enrolled. Even those with private insurance voted by a clear majority (62%) in favor of universal health insurance.

“People have a very keen sense of justice. Unfortunately, politicians have lost sight of this on many issues,” said Hans-Jürgen Urban, executive board member of IG Metall. Therefore, the answer can only be: The unfair additional premiums must be eliminated, and 50-50 financing must be restored! “For us, the results of the survey and the strong support for our petition campaign are an incentive to continue mobilizing support in the workplace and to address our demand for 50-50 financing of contributions to policymakers. Especially in a year of federal elections, the parties must take a stand on this issue,” said Urban.

For more information and the results of the TNS Infratest survey, visit: http://www.igmetall.de/presse

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