In a recent statement, the leader of the German Green Party’s parliamentary group, Britta Haßelmann, has once again drawn attention to the precarious financial situation of the social insurance system, calling for swift reforms to address the issue.
Haßelmann expressed grave concerns about the sustainability of the system, highlighting the alarming deficits in the long-term care insurance and health insurance funds. According to her, the deficit in the long-term care insurance is expected to more than double to over three billion euros by next year, while the health insurance funds would only be able to cover their expenses for a mere two days if their current reserves were to be depleted.
The politician emphasized that the real victims of this situation are the people, including the insufficient number of care workers, the caregivers at home and the insured individuals who will face significantly higher costs as a result. She urged the federal government to take immediate action and increase the subsidies to the social insurance funds.
Haßelmann also criticized the lack of reform efforts, attributing the inaction to the black-red coalition, which, in her view, is unwilling or unable to address the pressing issues. She expressed her disappointment that the coalition has outsourced the discussion of these crucial questions to commissions, which, she believes, will only produce results too late to be of any use. By the time the proposed reforms are presented in 2027, the health insurance funds will still be heavily reliant on the financial support of the finance minister, according to Haßelmann.