German Health Minister Nina Warken Proposes Care Reform with Higher Contributions, Reduced Benefits

Health Minister Nina Warken presented a draft reform of Germany's long‑term care insurance aimed at closing a projected €12.3 billion financing gap by 2029. The plan raises contributions for higher‑earning insured persons, increases the childless surcharge to 0.7 percentage points and obliges employers of minijob workers to pay care insurance premiums. From 2028, the previously free spousal co‑insurance will be limited, mirroring the statutory health insurance rule.

Beneficiary changes include stricter assessment of care grades with a six‑month waiting period before a higher grade can be granted, a full elimination of the relief amount for care grade 1 and a 50 % reduction for grades 2 and 3 during the first three months. State subsidies for nursing‑home residents will rise more slowly, and pension contributions for caring relatives will be cut to 70 % of current levels. The draft foresees savings of about €11 billion in the first year and over €20 billion by 2030. Professional associations, such as the German Nursing Council, have criticised the measures as a "blow to care" and questioned their impact on care quality.