Cities demand reform of long-term care insurance: Relief for municipal budgets
Many German cities and municipalities are currently calling for a fundamental reform of the statutory long-term care insurance system. The reason for this is the financial burden on municipalities, which continues to rise. Since long-term care insurance benefits are often insufficient, cities must cover the remaining costs for those in need through social assistance.
The leading municipal associations are therefore proposing a so-called "comprehensive long-term care insurance." The goal is for the insurance to cover all necessary care costs without the individuals affected or social welfare offices having to step in. Currently, many people in need of care must exhaust all their savings before the state covers the costs of a nursing home place.
Rising social assistance expenditures are putting many cities in a difficult position. Since municipal budgets are limited, less money remains for other important tasks such as the expansion of schools, public transport, or road maintenance. City representatives therefore warn that the current situation is not sustainable in the long term.
The federal government is now under pressure to find a solution. Experts are discussing various models for how long-term care insurance could be financed without increasing contributions for employees and employers too sharply. However, a decision on this issue has not yet been reached.
The debate highlights the scale of demographic change in Germany. As people live longer, the number of individuals requiring care is continuously increasing. Reforming long-term care financing therefore remains one of the most important political issues for the coming months.