The CNS will have to continue making use of its financial reserves due to an expected €55 million deficit this year. Reserves are therefore expected to go down to €848 million. This year’s deficit will thus be higher than was first calculated in May when estimations were still at €48 million.
Minister of Health Paulette Lenert, who is also Minister delegate for social security, noted that the sustainability of the system has to be revised, the same conclusion that was already drawn at the quadripartite meeting in spring this year.
Back then, a task force was commissioned to find solutions, but that process is still ongoing, said Minister Lenert. Their progress was slowed down due to the recent tripartite meeting on energy. Minister Lenert ensured that rendition of services will not go down, however.
The pandemic had a significant impact on the CNS budget. Since 2020, the balance has been in deficit: €12.4 million in 2020, €55 million in 2021. €55.1 million are once again expected this year. However, this tendency even goes back as far as 2018.
Nevertheless, there are still one or two more years until reserves have reached their legal minimum than previously expected. Concrete proposals on how to limit the further increase of costs are to be put forward by spring 2023.
Employers’ representatives pleaded for caution. Jean-Paul Olinger, director of the Union of Luxembourg Enterprises (UEL), noted that questions have to be raised on which services really have to stay reimbursable and which the CNS might be able to save in the future.
Minister Lenert ensured that no short-term decline of service renditions should be expected.
Representatives from the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) also strongly refuted that notion and argued that they would prefer for fees to go up rather than services to go down. Spokesperson Lynn Settinger further argued that unnecessary spending should be reduced.
Minister Lenert also announced that some improvements will be made affecting dental care, including root canal treatment and crowns. No agreement has yet been found on fillings and implants.
Unions meanwhile drew attention to the fact that a number of improvements, which had already been decided years ago, still have to be implemented.
