German care insurance cuts spark backlash from disability rights leader
Verena Bentele, president of the German Social Association (VdK), has spoken out against proposed cuts to long-term care insurance. She warned that reducing benefits or tightening eligibility could create bigger financial problems in the future.
The debate comes as Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) pushes for reforms to address the system’s growing deficit. Bentele criticised plans to raise eligibility thresholds or cut benefits, arguing these measures would backfire. She pointed out that short-term savings might lead to higher costs later, as delayed or reduced care could worsen people’s conditions. Instead, she called for a more sustainable approach.
She also highlighted that the rise in care dependency reflects better early detection and less stigma around needing support. But she stressed that the system still needs urgent fixes to remain stable.
To ease financial pressure, Bentele demanded immediate federal funding for non-insurance-related care benefits. She also pushed for fairer financial equalisation between statutory and private long-term care insurance in the medium term.
For the long term, she proposed a solidarity-based care insurance system covering all citizens and all income types. This, she argued, would create a more balanced and resilient funding model. The VdK’s stance puts pressure on policymakers to rethink cost-cutting measures. Bentele’s proposals focus on stabilising finances without reducing support for those in need. The government now faces calls to balance reform with long-term sustainability.
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