Pandemic
Corona free tests end for most – three euros due
Rapid tests in a test center. Photo: Peter Kneffel/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
For millions of people, rapid tests are a simple means of increasing safety in Corona times: they are available for free around the corner. The federal government is now restricting the billion-dollar service.
The offer of free rapid corona tests for everyone is coming to an end.
From next Thursday, “citizen tests” will only remain free for certain risk groups – as a rule, three euros will be due out of pocket per test in the future. This was announced by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) on Friday after an agreement was reached with Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP).
The regulation is intended to reduce billions in costs for the federal government. The federal states should be able to take over the three-euro citizen’s share if they wish.
Lauterbach spoke of an overall “good solution”. The citizen tests continued without gaps after the previous regulation expired at the end of June, which was controversial. The tests should be used more specifically where they would have the greatest benefit. At the same time, Lauterbach made no secret of the fact that he would have liked to continue free citizen tests for everyone. So far, everyone has the right to at least one quick test per week by trained test center staff and to a certificate, even without symptoms or a specific reason.
Financial possibilities reach their limits
Lindner said that the new test regulation would make tax money more effective. “Not everything can be paid for by the federal government in the long run because our possibilities have reached their limits.” According to Lauterbach, the new concept envisages spending of 2.7 billion euros by the end of the year – if the full takeover had continued, up to 5 billion euros would have been expected. Free tests for everyone were temporarily restricted last autumn and then widely reintroduced. The details:
Free tests: Lauterbach explained that free quick tests should continue to be possible for vulnerable groups. These include children up to five years of age, women at the beginning of pregnancy, visitors to clinics and nursing homes, members of the household of infected people, residents of facilities for people with disabilities and people who cannot be vaccinated. Provision should be made to submit evidence that one is entitled – for example by means of an ID card or passport, with certificates, forms or certificates.
Three-euro tests: With an additional payment of three euros, tests should therefore be available in other cases. For example, before going to a concert indoors, before larger family celebrations or visiting older people, after risky contacts, if there is a warning on the Corona app. For these subsidized tests, too, you should put your name on a list at the test center and justify the reason for the test.
Payment: Citizens can pay the three euros in the test center or pharmacy in the usual way in cash or by card. For providers, the “reimbursement price” is to be reduced from 11.50 euros to 9.50 euros: in addition to the three euros, there are also 6.50 euros from the federal government. The federal states have the option of taking on the citizen’s share of the tests, said Lauterbach. This is also a way of reacting to larger corona outbreaks, for example. SPD parliamentary group leader Dagmar Schmidt said: “I would be very happy if the federal states would contribute to the costs and thus enable free citizen tests.”
Search for traces of Corona: “We want to continue to break chains of infection with the citizen tests in the future,” said Lauterbach. The new concept is well prepared for this. This means that the network of test centers will now also be maintained. It is to be expected that the number of citizen tests will decrease. However, tests without a reason would not be recommended either. The German Foundation for Patient Protection warned against excluding those in need of care at home and their relatives from free preventive tests. “The heads of government of the countries are required to correct the error by assuming the costs for these particularly vulnerable people,” said board member Eugen Brysch.
Controls: The new concept should also react to various cases of billing fraud with the lucrative tests. Among other things, the control frequency should be increased, as Lauterbach said – for example to detect test centers that almost only charge negative tests more quickly.