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Coalition Standoff Over Abortion Insurance Expansion Clause

The dispute hinges on whether the clause implies decriminalizing abortion or only boosting the income threshold for insurance reimbursement.

Overview

  • The coalition agreement pledges to expand statutory health insurance coverage for abortion beyond existing rules.
  • SPD leaders and constitutional court nominee Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf interpret the clause as an indirect mandate to repeal §218 of the criminal code.
  • Health Minister Nina Warken argues that raising the €1,500 net income limit would suffice to widen reimbursements without touching §218.
  • CSU MP Stephan Pilsinger opposes any extension beyond means-testing, warning it would undermine the abortion statute and face constitutional challenges.
  • No legislative proposal has been tabled so far, leaving the 1995 Schwangerschaftskonfliktgesetz in place, which covers about 60 percent of the roughly 100,000 annual procedures for low-income women who otherwise pay €300–400 out of pocket.