Well-being is the focus here. Upcoming Health Conference - Urgent demands for swift changes in the financial system related to nursing care.
There's been an increase in the number of people requiring assistance, leading to increasing calls for financial changes before the 2025 federal elections. Verena Bentele, president of Social Association VdK, emphasized the need for immediate action, stating, "The situation for care recipients and their caregivers is deteriorating rapidly." The union Verdi urged for a prompt solution to this critical issue.
However, federal health minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) doubted the possibility of a reform this legislative period due to disagreements within the coalition. Nevertheless, Sylvia Bühler, Vice President of Verdi, insisted, "There should be no more delays. SPD and Greens must step up and push through the essential care reform. Firstly, the care insurance must be relieved of non-insured services. Those providing pensions for caregivers should be funded through tax revenues. A 'solidarity care guarantee' that covers all care-related expenses for all, based on income, is vital."
But what about raising contributions?
The Association of Health Insurance Funds in North Rhine-Westphalia shared their concerns with the "Rheinische Post": "The sustainability of the entire system is in jeopardy, which might lead to a potential contribution rate increase as early as 2025." Funds predict that they'll be spending more than they receive in the first quarter of 2025. For this reason, the federal government might increase the contribution rate through a legal mandate.
Although the Ampel coalition had planned to secure the care insurance's finances until 2025, the employee contribution for people without kids rose to 4%, and for those with one child, it went up to 3.4%. Employer contributions rose to 1.7%. Families with at least two children receive a lower contribution than before in the employee category.
Green faction vice-chair Maria Klein-Schmeink acknowledged, "Our priority is to have care equitably and reliability financed - and as soon as possible." By funding services not covered by care insurance through tax revenue, they aim to achieve this, including monthly pension allowances for caregivers.
Wissler, Left Party chairwoman, urged for a comprehensive 'solidarity insurance' where everyone would contribute based on their income. The Catholic Caritas Association advocated for stronger support, particularly for families caring for people at home. Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa, President of the Catholic Caritas Association, said to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group, "We need to establish a social infrastructure that aids caregivers around the clock."
Lauterbach had issued a warning on Monday, highlighting an "explosive increase" in people requiring care. The top association of health insurance funds revealed that approximately 35,000 more individuals required care than usual, resulting in a total of 361,000.
Social expert Bernd Raffelhuschen suggested a one-year self-participation of those affected in the costs. He maintained, "The cost avalanche can't be stopped anymore. To alleviate the situation, we must implement a care leave as soon as possible." Care-dependent individuals would then take responsibility for the first year's care costs. "It is essential that payments flow from the care insurance only after that." Raffelhuschen projected a significant surge in the contribution rate: "The care insurance could rise to around seven percent for people without children by 2040."
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- Karl Lauterbach, the German federal health minister from the SPD, expressed uncertainty about accomplishing a care reform this legislative period due to coalition disagreements.
- Verena Bentele, president of Social Association VdK, called for immediate action, claiming that the situation for care recipients and their caregivers is worsening rapidly in Germany.
- Sylvia Bühler, Vice President of Verdi, urged the SPD and Greens to swiftly push through the essential care reform, suggesting relief for the care insurance from non-insured services and funding for caregiver pensions through tax revenues.
- The Association of Health Insurance Funds in North Rhine-Westphalia voiced concerns about the potential contribution rate increase in 2025, as they anticipate spending more than they receive in the first quarter.
- Despite the Ampel coalition's efforts to secure the care insurance's finances until 2025, the employee contribution increased for individuals without children and those with one child, while the employer contribution rose as well.
- Green faction vice-chair Maria Klein-Schmeink emphasized the importance of funding care-related services through tax revenue as a priority to ensure equitable and reliable financing.
- The Catholic Caritas Association advocated for stronger support for families caring for individuals at home, with President Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa urging the establishment of a 24-hour social infrastructure aiding caregivers.
- Social expert Bernd Raffelhuschen proposed a one-year self-participation of those affected in the care costs to alleviate the situation, projecting a potential increase in the contribution rate to around seven percent for people without children by 2040.
- Long-term care insurance faces an "explosive increase" in people requiring care, according to a warning issued by federal health minister Lauterbach, with the top association of health insurance funds reporting about 35,000 more individuals requiring care than usual, totaling 361,000.
Source: www.stern.de
