Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has presented and defended her draft reform of the care insurance system. The package includes higher contributions and benefit restrictions to avert a looming deficit.
Warken submitted a draft law that will raise the contribution assessment ceiling from 2027 and increase the care contribution for childless people to 4.3 percent. Further measures include time shifts for relief supplements for nursing home residents and stricter requirements for classification into a care level. The draft aims to avert a deficit of more than 20 billion euros by 2030. Warken stressed on ARD that a broad approach had been necessary to close financial gaps and improve care. Criticism came from Green expert Janosch Dahmen, who objected to restrictions on access to benefits and higher burdens for municipalities. Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn called the package balanced and pointed to the insolvency of the care insurance fund.
