The Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD), a prominent social welfare association, has joined the growing chorus calling for increased government funding to bolster Germany’s health and long-term care insurance systems. Michaela Engelmeier, SoVD’s chairwoman, emphasized the significant challenges facing the current administration, attributing them to demographic shifts and a lack of reform over recent decades.
Engelmeier, in statements to Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, specifically highlighted the urgency of financing non-insurance-related services currently provided through tax funds. She further advocated for broader structural reforms to enhance the resilience and effectiveness of the healthcare system.
Regarding health insurance, Engelmeier called for a genuine “citizen’s insurance” model to strengthen financial stability, improve service provision and ensure future-proofing. Similarly, she proposed transitioning the existing long-term care insurance system into a full citizen-based insurance program, guaranteeing complete risk coverage and distributing costs based on individual capacity. Until that transition is achieved, Engelmeier urged a cap on individual contributions to the system.
The call for increased funding and systemic changes echoes recent statements from Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken (CDU), who has also pushed for greater budgetary resources for the health and care sectors. Minister Warken specifically addressed the increasing individual financial burden associated with institutional long-term care, advocating for a halt to the current upward trend in costs.