Point in the austerity package

Pensioners face losses of up to 8,000 euros

The losses from the planned increase in health insurance contributions would cost pensioners many thousands of euros. An expert has now calculated what this means in concrete terms for each and every one of them.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

It is an inconspicuous item on the list of blue-black austerity measures - but ultimately has a considerable impact on the finances of pensioners: the planned increase in health insurance contributions for all retirees. An expert has calculated for "Krone" readers what concrete losses this could entail.

At the press conference on Thursday, ÖVP party leader August Wöginger and FPÖ finance spokesman Hubert Fuchs listed almost all of the planned savings measures. However, they did not mention one, which is, of course, also on the list that Finance Minister Gunter Mayr sent to Brussels. Inconspicuously, one line of the Excel document reads: "Adjustments to health insurance contributions". This is one of the larger items on the list and is intended to generate a total of 270 million euros for the budget this year. The "Krone" shows in a clear graphic how much pensioners could soon lose depending on the amount of their own pension.