German Union Fraktionschefs Criticise Planned Pflege Reform

Union faction leaders from the CDU and CSU in Baden‑Württemberg, Bavaria, Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony‑Anhalt and Thuringia issued a joint resolution calling for revisions to Health Minister Nina Warken’s proposals for reforming the statutory health and long‑term‑care insurance. They warned that the draft would disadvantage caring relatives, whom they described as the “heroes of everyday life”, and objected to the planned reduction of pension‑fund contributions for these caregivers. The leaders demanded that the cost of statutory health insurance for recipients of Bürgergeld be covered by general taxes and stressed the need to protect existing structures such as the pension‑related benefits for caregivers. CSU faction chief Klaus Holetschek said, “Pflegende Angehörige sind der größte Pflegedienst unseres Landes.” The resolution also urged Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil to clear the pandemic‑related debt owed to the care insurance and warned against additional bureaucracy in the medical‑service assessments. Several unions and the Zukunftsforum Familie echoed the concerns, highlighting risks of increased financial burdens on families and potential setbacks for gender equality in care work.