Consolidate actions against the "quasi-thought" faction for a greater level of uniformity
In recent developments, the director of the Institute of the German Economy, Michael Hüther, has called for a more assertive approach against the "Querdenken" movement, which has been widely known as a group opposing COVID-19 restrictions, including vaccinations. However, it's important to note that as of August 2025, no formal insurance coverage exclusion policies or proposals in Germany directly addressing medically unwarranted vaccine refusal connected to the "Querdenken" movement have been officially reported or legislated.
The German COVID-19 response has mainly focused on public health measures such as vaccination requirements for access to specific venues and legal rulings about subsidies. These measures did not extend to insurance law changes or exclusions for refusal based on ideology or non-medical reasons.
In contrast to some jurisdictions like Wisconsin in the U.S., Germany does not have strict enforcement and notification requirements about immunization in schools, including exclusions for noncompliance. Hüther's proposal for insurance coverage is a response to behavior he believes harms others, as demonstrated by the "Querdenken" initiative's demonstrations where people often demonstrated closely together without masks, disregarding coronavirus regulations.
In the short term, Hüther proposed the enforcement of administrative offenses to control the "Querdenken" movement. In the medium term, he suggested considering the exclusion of COVID-19 illness from insurance coverage for medically unwarranted vaccine refusals. Hüther's proposal aims to protect the community from negative external effects caused by such behavior.
It's essential to clarify that the current data do not indicate any recent legal or policy developments on this topic beyond the search conducted. Specialized legal or governmental publications might be required for more detailed information on this subject.
[1] Source: Various German government and health sector sources from 2025. [2] Source: Information on immunization requirements and exclusions in schools from Wisconsin, U.S.
Other documents or sources may provide more detailed information about insurance coverage exclusion policies or proposals in Germany related to medically unwarranted vaccine refusal connected to the "Querdenken" movement. Michael Hüther's proposal for such an exclusion falls under the politics and policy-and-legislation category as it aims to protect the general news of public health against negative external effects caused by such behavior.
