2023-10-22 11:02:07
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has announced relief for parents who apply for child sickness benefit. “We are ensuring that parents no longer have to run to the doctor on the first day that their child is sick in order to claim child sickness benefit,” Lauterbach told the newspaper “Bild am Sonntag”. “This is senseless bureaucracy and puts a strain on mothers and fathers,” argued the minister.
According to Lauterbach, in the future it will only be necessary to see a doctor from the fourth day of illness onwards. The changes should take effect “ideally during this winter cold season,” said the SPD politician.
Christian Geinitz Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 19 Published/Updated: Recommendations: 6 Hinnerk Feldwisch-Drentrup Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 5
Parents are entitled to time off work to care for a sick child under the age of twelve. There is child sickness benefit for a limited number of days. The health insurance company then covers a large part of the loss of earnings and pays child sickness benefit – usually 90 percent of net earnings.
On Thursday, a law passed the Bundestag that would increase the number of days for which parents can apply for child sickness benefit. After special regulations in the corona pandemic expire, from 2024 there would actually be 10 children’s sick days per year per parent – the law now increases the number to 15 days per child and parent for 2024 and 2025. However, the Federal Council still has to agree to this.
In the newspaper interview, Health Minister Lauterbach also announced a fee increase for general practitioners of up to 15 percent. This should “make the family doctor profession more attractive again,” said Lauterbach.
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