The looming financial shortfall in Germany's social care insurance system has sparked urgent calls for reform. The Federal Audit Office has projected a deficit of 12.3 billion euros by 2029, prompting warnings from unions and associations against cost-cutting measures that may harm the vulnerable. They urge bold actions to alleviate the financial burden on those needing care.
Anja Piel from the German Trade Union Confederation emphasizes the need for a reform that ensures dignified and need-oriented care, cautioning against reducing services and expenditures. She highlights the necessity of capping personal contributions for residential care and reinstating tax subsidies, alongside reimbursing pandemic-related costs amounting to 5.2 billion euros.
The concept of a comprehensive care insurance that covers all care costs has gained support, as cutting back on care risks impoverishing those in need and potentially endangering lives. The German Foundation for Patient Protection advocates capping care costs at 1,000 euros monthly, excluding accommodation and additional comforts. This policy aims to ensure sustainable and fair care provision for future generations.
There is a consensus that care should be viewed as a societal responsibility, requiring a uniform insurance model that includes all citizens and income types. The looming deficit, exacerbated by an unexpected rise in care-dependent individuals and capped personal contributions, underscores the urgency for reform. The current budgetary plans, which include loans totaling 2 billion euros for relief, are deemed insufficient by auditors, who stress the need for comprehensive restructuring of the care insurance system. As the Bund-Länder commission convenes, it faces the critical task of crafting a financially viable and future-proof care framework.
