Federal Health Minister Lauterbach believes that there are four cost factors in nursing care “that will be relevant in the long term.” One of these are rising wages, which Lauterbach describes as a positive aspect. Inflation is another cost factor. In addition, there is an increasing number of people who require nursing care, and they tend to receive such care for longer, Lauterbach explained.

Financing of the mandatory nursing care insurance must therefore be stabilised to allow for its services to be funded also in the future. “The reform provides an additional total of 6.6 billion euros a year for nursing care insurance from 2025 onwards, which is when the reform will take its full effect for the first time,” said Lauterbach when he introduced the draft law. This corresponded to an increase of around 11 percent compared to current spending, he added.

Higher contributions – children are taken into account

As of 1 July 2023 the contribution rate is to be raised by a moderate 0.35 percentage points. In future, the number of children will be taken into account for determining the contribution amount. The changes were prompted by the resolution of the Federal Constitutional Court of 7 April 2022, in which it called on the legislator to take greater account of the effort involved in raising children, as well as the number of children.

The surcharge for childless people is to be raised to 0.6 contribution rate points. In addition, those who pay contributions are to be given relief from the second through to the fifth child, in the form of a deduction of 0.25 contribution rate points for each child under the age of 25.

Support for home care – relief for people requiring care and their care givers

From 1 January 2024, the care allowance and benefits in kind for outpatient care are to be raised by five percent each. Planning then provides for cash and in-kind benefits to be automatically adjusted in line with pricing developments from 1 January 2025 through to 1 January 2028.

Entitlement to the so-called care-support allowance is to be expanded. Such wage replacement benefits are available to people who are unable to work because they are taking care of a close relative. This benefit is to be paid for ten calendar days per year for each person in need of care.

Promoting digitalisation

The possibilities offered for long-term care by digitisation are to be used even more effectively in future. A competence centre for digitalisation and nursing care will be set up for this purpose.

The funding programme for acquiring digital and technical equipment for care facilities has a total volume of around 300 million euros. The range of items which can be funded through the scheme is also being expanded and the term of the programme is to be extended until the end of this decade.

Further information and details of the support and relief arrangements provided for in the draft law are available from the Federal Ministry of Health.