Germany's Nursing Care Reform Faces Fierce Criticism

German Health Minister Nina Warken has proposed a savings package aimed at stabilizing the nation's nursing care insurance system, but the plans are facing significant backlash.

Janosch Dahmen, a health expert for the Green Party, criticized the proposal, stating that the largest savings are to be achieved by restricting access to care services. He argued that this approach burdens individuals needing care with higher out-of-pocket expenses, leaves relatives without social security, and forces municipalities to shoulder increased social welfare costs. "The costs of care do not disappear – they just reappear elsewhere," Dahmen told the German Press Agency.

“

The costs of care do not disappear – they just reappear elsewhere.

Warken's draft includes spending brakes and new revenue streams to cover billions in deficits and avoid general contribution increases. Measures include delaying relief grants for nursing home residents and increasing the care contribution for childless individuals to 4.3%. Restrictions are also planned for the free co-insurance of spouses, and the criteria for qualifying for a care grade may be tightened. Additionally, cuts are proposed for pension contribution payments for relatives providing care.

“

Slap in the face for municipalities.

The president of the German Association of Cities, Burkhard Jung, called the plans a "slap in the face for municipalities." He warned that instead of providing relief, the proposals would impose billions in additional costs on local governments in the coming years. "This draft must never pass the Bundestag," Jung stated, noting that municipalities incur costs when individuals requiring care fall into social assistance.

Thomas Greiner, president of the Employer Association for Care, representing private care providers, highlighted existing long waiting times for nursing home places. He asserted that the proposed measures, which he described as a "raid on contributors, those needing care, and municipalities," would not create a single additional care spot.

“

This draft must never pass the Bundestag.

However, Jens Spahn, leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, defended Warken's concept. He described it as a "difficult but necessary step" and a "balanced package." Spahn argued that while no one likes cutting benefits, the nursing care and health insurance systems are "simply bankrupt." He contrasted Germany's spending on care, relative to its economic output, with that of comparable European neighbors, noting Germany's significantly older population. Dahmen countered that the solution cannot be to cut benefits, make care grades harder to attain, and offer less security to relatives, calling it the "wrong therapy for an already ailing system."

“

This raid on contributors, those needing care, and municipalities creates not one care spot.