– We have a gap at the National Health Fund. This deficit last year amounted to PLN 30 billion. That's what the premium is missing. You have to add from other elements – said Dr. Sławomir Dudek, president and chief economist of the Institute of Public Finance in “#bezkit” on TVN24.
Dudek, asked if the proposal to reduce the health contribution for entrepreneurs is a good direction, denied.
Dudek about the change in the health premium
– No, this is not a good direction and I will say why. I come from liberal environments, I would prefer to have lower taxes than higher, but I'm not in favor of lowering this premium. Because this is also a health tax, it reduces the total income of all public finances – the economist pointed out.
He added that “in the National Health Fund we have a huge shortage of contributions, we have a financial gap” and “This deficit last year amounted to PLN 30 billion”.
– That's what the premium is missing. You need to add from other elements – he emphasized.
He added that “the subsidy does not grow on a tree, the subsidy is other taxes”, or “we will add from other taxes or reduce public services elsewhere.”
– Maybe we will give smaller increases to teachers, maybe policemen. So that this shift is not true – he pointed out.
According to the economist, “the system must be improved, there is nothing to do with the revolution.”
– I see a discrepancy on the side of the Confederation's representatives. Because Mr. (Sławomir) Mentzen talked about some Singapore system in which in relation to GDP There are small expenses, but there is a completely different culture, a different organization and there is also a certain compulsion to save – said Dudek.
He also explained that Germany They spend 7.5 percent its GDP for healthcare, and Poland – 5.5 percent
Competitiveness is possible
Are the changes in the health premium actually such a revolution for entrepreneurs? Dudek referred to data from the assessment of the effects of project regulation.
– I do not know if everyone knows, but this reduction of the premium gives a profit for 90 percent of entrepreneurs, these 2.5 million, attention – half percent. Half percent will benefit in relation to income, it is such a benefit – he said.
– I think there will be a lot of disappointed entrepreneurs in 2026, because it is only half a percent, while for example minimum wage It grows by 8.5 percent this year – he added.
Dudek pointed out that there will be a large defect for the budget, and this is still when “everyone is looking for a fiscal space for arms expenses”.
Changes in the health premium
The government project assumes the introduction of a two -element basis for calculating the health premium for entrepreneurs – to a certain level would be a flat -rate, and from the surplus of income – percentage.
The flat -rate part of the premium will be 9 percent. from 75 percent minimum remuneration for work. The second part will be calculated from the surplus of income above 1.5 times the average monthly salary with entrepreneurs settling the tax scale or flat tax (4.9 % rate).
Changes in the health premium would cost the state budget PLN 4.6 billion, and the provisions have been valid from the beginning of 2026.
Source of the main photo: Tvn24