Verena Bentele, President of the VdK social association, issued a strong warning against any proposed cuts to long-term care insurance. She cautioned that while immediate savings might appear beneficial, they could ultimately result in higher overall costs, particularly because necessary intervention for severe and costly care needs would no longer be possible.
Bentele advised against basing policy changes-such as raising thresholds or restricting services-solely on the current increase in the number of people needing care. She argued that this trend, while pointing to increased demand, is actually a positive development, indicating that care needs are being recognized and accepted earlier. According to Bentele, this registry is vital because only those officially caught within the system can receive necessary consultation, prevention, rehabilitation, and support.
To stabilize the care insurance system’s finances, Bentele laid out a three-pronged strategy. She stated that in the short term, federal involvement is necessary to cover non-insured services. In the medium term, a fair financial equalization mechanism must be established between the statutory (public) and private care insurance sectors. Finally, she asserted that the long-term future requires a comprehensive, solidarity-based care insurance model that genuinely incorporates all citizens and all sources of income.
This warning comes as Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) seeks to limit the system’s deficit through other planned reforms.