Biznes Fakty
Health insurance contribution. Announcement by Prime Minister Donald Tusk
Donald Tusk addressed the matter of health insurance contributions. The Prime Minister stated that if President Andrzej Duda were to veto the proposal, the government would revisit the subject of lowering the contribution after the presidential elections.
– I plan to suggest and take actions, likely after the presidential elections, to revisit the issue of decreasing the health insurance contribution for business owners – the government leader remarked when questioned about subsequent actions pertaining to the reduction of the health insurance contribution in the event of a presidential veto.
Health insurance contribution. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s announcement
Tusk emphasized that lowering health insurance contributions was a promise he made during the election campaign.
– Particularly for small and medium-sized business owners, Morawiecki’s increase was insufficient and extremely burdensome, especially for those putting in the most effort yet earning modest incomes; thus, the president is aware of my stance – he noted.
He further stated: – I expressed this opinion because I hope it may prompt a reconsideration of this announcement.
Previously on Platform X, the Prime Minister indicated that following the obstruction of the hate speech legislation, the president plans to veto the reduction of health insurance contributions.
Modifications to health insurance premiums
Presidential candidates Adrian Zandberg (Razem) and Magdalena Biejat (Left) urged President Duda to veto the legislation aimed at reducing the health insurance contribution for entrepreneurs. The OZZL Residents’ Agreement and the Supreme Medical Chamber argue that decreasing the contribution will worsen patient conditions and exacerbate the healthcare crisis. Both the employees’ and employers’ representatives on the Social Dialogue Council opposed the reduction of health insurance contributions without prior consultation. Patient advocacy groups, including the Polish Oncology Federation and the Alivia Oncofoundation, also stand against the reduction of health insurance contributions.
The Senate is set to review the amendment to the health insurance contribution act during its session commencing on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Senate committees voted to adopt the amendment without changes. In their review of the act, the Senate Chancellery’s legislative office observed that the government bill was presented to the Sejm without public consultations, and this breach of legislative procedure requires an assessment of its constitutional compliance.
The amendment to the Act on Health Benefits Financed from Public Funds proposes the establishment of a two-part basis for calculating the health contribution for entrepreneurs – up to a certain threshold, it will be a flat-rate contribution, and for income exceeding that, it will be a percentage. The flat-rate element will be set at 9% of 75% of the minimum wage. The second component will be assessed on income surpassing 1.5 times the average monthly wage for entrepreneurs using the tax scale or flat tax (set at 4.9%). For entrepreneurs opting for the flat-rate contribution, the second part will be calculated from income exceeding three times the average monthly wage (with a rate of 3.5%).
The regulations are expected to take effect at the start of 2026, and the changes affecting 2.5 million business operators are projected to cost the state budget PLN 4.6 billion (the anticipated reduction in revenue from health insurance contributions).
The new regulations will not alter the amount of health insurance contributions paid by full-time employees, which will remain at 9%. Additionally, there will be no modifications to the contribution for retirement benefits, which will continue to be 9%.
The amendment to the act facilitating a reduction in health insurance contributions for entrepreneurs was approved by the Sejm in early April, with votes from KO, Polska 2050-TD, and PSL-TD. MPs from PiS, Lewica, and Razem opposed it, while Konfederacja abstained from voting.
