The DAK health insurance company is raising serious concerns about the financial stability of Germany’s long-term care insurance system. Andreas Storm, CEO of DAK-Gesundheit, warned in an interview with the “Rheinische Post” that the system is facing an “existential crisis” and requires immediate government intervention.
Storm’s statement follows a recent report by the Federal Audit Court, which he says reveals a more precarious situation than previously acknowledged. He emphasized that both the health insurance and long-term care systems are in urgent need of support, characterizing them as “patients requiring intensive care.
He critiques the government’s plans, suggesting that proposed loans from Finance Minister Klingbeil are not a sufficient solution. Storm advocates for the expedited repayment of 5.2 billion euros in COVID-19 relief funds currently held by the care insurance funds. Beyond this, he calls for a comprehensive reform of the long-term care system, incorporating lasting structural changes.
Expressing reservations about the current approach, Storm criticized the exclusion of care insurance funds and other key stakeholders from discussions within the Federal-State Working Group tasked with developing the reform. He questioned the efficacy of a commission comprised solely of federal and state representatives without the involvement of those directly administering the system. The working group convened for its initial meeting on Monday.