That is changing for employees and consumers

July 2023 will bring some changes for workers and consumers. New laws and rules come into force. Among other things, the average contributions to long-term care insurance are increasing. The same applies to pensions. In addition, the so-called e-prescription comes into force

From July 2023: These laws and changes come into force

Like almost every month, July 2023 brings some important changes for workers and consumers. In addition, new laws come into force.

For example, new charging stations for e-cars must have a card terminal in the future. In addition, the contributions to long-term care insurance are increasing.

1. Rewe abolishes printed brochures

After the abolition of plastic bags in 2016, Rewe will no longer use printed paper brochures. Instead, the supermarket chain only wants to market its weekly offers as digital brochures from July 2023 – also via WhatsApp.

The background: With the conversion, the company wants to make a contribution to environmental and climate protection and, above all, to save costs. According to Rewe, the digital brochures have also recently met with great customer interest.

2. Contributions to long-term care insurance are increasing

If you take a look at your payslip in July 2023, you will probably find that a little less money will arrive in your account. Because as a result of a change in the law, general contributions to long-term care insurance will increase on average from 3.05 to 3.4 percent.

For childless people over the age of 23, the percentage even increases by 0.6 percent with an employee share of 2.4 percent. Meanwhile, parents with more than two children are relieved, because the contribution drops by 0.25 percent from the second to the fifth customer – during the child-raising period up to the age of 25. The employer contribution remains the same.

3. The e-prescription is coming

The so-called e-prescription is scheduled to officially start on July 1, 2023. Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) said this Editorial Network Germany (RND) with. The start of the electronic prescription had previously been delayed several times. However, Lauterbach recently announced: “The e-prescription is finally suitable for everyday use”.

Accordingly, patients can access the electronic prescription from July 1 via their insurance card. According to Lauterbach, around 80 percent of pharmacies should also be connected to the system and have a reader by the end of July. So far there have been isolated test phases, but the launch that has now been announced has been postponed several times.

4. New charging stations must offer contactless card payment

From July 1st, the operators of charging stations for e-cars must offer a contactless payment function. In concrete terms, this means that new charging stations should be equipped with a card reader terminal.

However, columns that are already active do not have to be converted. So far, the payment process at the charging stations in Germany has only worked via app or charging card.

5. By law: Pensions will increase on July 1, 2023

Around 21 million pensioners in Germany have reason to be happy in July 2023, because: Pensions are rising. While an increase of 5.86 percent will take effect in eastern Germany, pensioners in western Germany will receive 4.39 percent more money in the future. This was shared by the German pension insurance in one official announcement with.

As a result of the adjustment, the pensions between East and West will be finally aligned from July 2023 – one year earlier than planned. Nevertheless, there is criticism, since inflation has eaten up the increase in principle in advance.

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