Germany’s Green Party is escalating the debate surrounding the nation’s struggling long-term care system, proposing a radical overhaul centered on a capped individual contribution and a broadened funding base. A policy paper, detailed in an exclusive report by “Stern” magazine and attributed to Green Party spokesperson Simone Fischer, outlines a plan to strictly limit personal expenses for residents in stationary care facilities to €1,000, with correspondingly lower limits for those receiving care at home.
The proposal directly challenges the current system, which places a disproportionate burden on working individuals and pensioners. The Green Party argues that escalating costs are rendering care unaffordable for a growing segment of the population, fueling anxieties and potentially exacerbating inequalities. To ensure the sustainability of the system, Fischer’s paper champions a citizen’s insurance model, advocating for contributions based on overall economic capacity, regardless of income source – encompassing salaries, self-employment, civil servant status and capital gains. This would necessitate raising the current income threshold for contribution assessments.
A key element of the Green proposal involves shifting the costs of training for caregivers away from individual recipients, instead funding this expenditure through general taxation. Furthermore, the party demands the reimbursement of pension contributions for caregivers and the repayment of COVID-related expenses previously levied on the Pflegeversicherung (care insurance).
The proposals represent a pointed critique of the current, fractured approach under the ruling “black-red” coalition government. With the “Future Pact for Care” working group nearing its conclusion, Fischer expressed concerns about a lack of clear direction in the ongoing Pflegereform (care reform). The spokesperson described the current situation as a potentially catastrophic risk to the entire system, accusing the government of failing to provide a path towards a robust and equitable financing solution.
“A fair income base for the care insurance combined with a real cost cap for those in need of care is not a green dream” Fischer emphasized. “It is the only honest way to prevent this system from collapsing and to keep it stable”. The Green Party’s stance injects significant political pressure on the government to reconsider its strategy and address the deep-seated issues plaguing Germany’s long-term care infrastructure.