The statutory health insurance system is cautioning against deferring the substantial financial challenges facing long-term care insurance to the future as a government commission prepares to commence its work.
Oliver Blatt, Chairman of the GKV-Spitzenverband, emphasized the necessity of genuine and sustainable financial stabilization for the care insurance system. He warned that temporary, debt-financed support for the insurance in 2024 and 2025 only postpones the problem, rather than solving it. Blatt’s comments, released to the “Rheinische Post”, addressed the launch of the commission on Monday.
The commission’s formation has drawn some criticism due to its composition, which primarily includes politicians and civil servants, with limited representation from care associations. The group will be coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health under the direction of Minister Nina Warken (CDU).
The GKV-Spitzenverband has reported a deficit of €1.54 billion for the social care insurance system in 2024. Despite a recent increase of 0.2 percentage points in contribution rates at the start of the year, a deficit of approximately €90 million was already recorded during the first quarter of 2025. The GKV projects a year-end deficit of around €160 million, with projections for a multi-billion euro deficit anticipated for the following year.
To address the immediate shortfall, the government’s current budget proposal allocates two loans to the care insurance system. These include €500 million for the social care insurance equalization fund in 2025, followed by a further €1.5 billion in 2026. Repayment of these loans is slated to begin in 2029.
Blatt expressed hope for the commission’s success, noting that a positive outcome would benefit millions of individuals requiring care and those contributing to the system. He also offered the expertise and cooperation of the care insurance providers, stating their technical proficiency is considerable.