Germany initiates major long-term care insurance reform

long-term care insurance Pflegereform German federal government social security reform care level assessment

The German federal government has launched a significant reform of the long-term care insurance system to address growing financial deficits and a rising number of people in need of care. The federal cabinet approved the draft for the Long-Term Care Reorganization Act (PNOG) in late September 2026, with the goal of implementing major changes by January 1, 2027.

One key component of the reform involves adjusting the point thresholds for determining care levels. To alleviate the financial burden on the insurance fund, higher total points will be required for care levels 1 through 3. This change is projected to save the insurance system 1.3 billion euros in 2027 and 4.2 billion euros by 2030. Existing care levels will be protected under grandfathering provisions.

A new commission of 13 experts has begun work to develop long-term stabilization strategies, with results expected by late January 2027. Health Minister Carsten Linnemann aims to implement a broader structural reform based on these recommendations by July 1, 2027. The reform comes as the number of people receiving statutory care benefits has risen to six million, while the ratio of contributors to beneficiaries has dropped from 29 to 10 since 1998.

Entities

ARD · Bundesministerium für Gesundheit · Bundesrat · Bundestag · Caren Miosga · Carsten Linnemann · Gabriele Kuhn-Zuber · Georg Cremer · German Federal Ministry of Health · Germany · Hendrik Streeck · Louis Klamroth

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The reform will increase the total points required for care levels 1 to 3. www.buerger-geld.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] The adjusted assessment system is expected to save the care insurance 1.3 billion euros in 2027. www.buerger-geld.org
[● 6 SOURCES] The number of contributors per care recipient in Germany fell from 29 in 1998 to 10 in 2025. www.nordbayern.de · courage-lounge.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.dk-online.de
[● 4 SOURCES] A 13-member reform commission is scheduled to present its results by the end of January 2027. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zdfheute.de
[○ 1 SOURCE] The adjusted assessment system is expected to save the care insurance 4.2 billion euros by 2030. www.buerger-geld.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] The reform aims for most changes to take effect on January 1, 2027. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de
[● 2 SOURCES] The German cabinet approved the draft of the Long-Term Care Reorganization Act (PNOG) on September 30, 2026. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.buerger-geld.org
[● 7 SOURCES] In 2025, 6 million people received benefits from statutory long-term care insurance in Germany. www.nordbayern.de · courage-lounge.de · www.marler-zeitung.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.dk-online.de