Rising costs - Lauterbach announces concept for care reform
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced a pension reform before the federal election in the face of rising costs. "We will present a concept after the summer break," said the SPD politician in Berlin. The concept is expected to involve a comprehensive plan for more capacity in care personnel, stronger prevention of care needs, and closing a financial gap. Lauterbach said: "We are facing a challenge here, but it is also solvable." It is "not a cost explosion that we are facing."
The Minister also said: "The traffic light will still present a major pension reform." The pension insurance expects red figures again this year. In the first quarter of 2024, a deficit of 650 million euros existed, the peak association of statutory health insurance funds recently reported, which also represents the pension funds. In the entire year, a deficit of 1.5 billion euros is calculated, for 2025 then of 3.4 billion euros. In the previous year, the pension insurance had recorded a surplus of 1.79 billion euros.
- The SPD's proposal for care reform, as mentioned by Lauterbach, includes a focus on long-term care insurance, aiming to increase capacity in care personnel and enhance preventive measures.
- Lauterbach, the Federal Health Minister, emphasized during the Berlin press conference that the upcoming federal election will see the presentation of a comprehensive care reform concept from the SPD-led government.
- To address the financial gap in long-term care, the Federal Government, led by the SPD, is contemplating reforms, with Karl Lauterbach leading the charge in Germany's health sector.
- Following the summer break, the newly constituted German Cabinet, led by the SPD, plans to present a pension reform concept that also incorporates a strategic plan for long-term care, including insurance and personnel provisions.
- In the lead-up to the federal election, Lauterbach, a prominent SPD politician, reiterated that the care reform includes a significant emphasis on long-term care insurance, with the support of the Federal Government.
