German coalition reopens talks on care insurance
SPD and CDU/CSU seek compromise again on the affordability of long-term care.
Germany’s governing parties SPD and CDU/CSU are negotiating again over the planned reform of long-term care. The SPD wants, among other things, to prevent nursing-home residents’ personal contributions from rising further, while the government must also close a financial shortfall.
According to the government, the planned reform should stabilise the social long-term care insurance scheme financially over the longer term. The German government writes that the insurance scheme will end 2026 with a clear deficit, which could rise to more than €7.6 billion in 2027 and more than €15 billion in 2028 without reform.
The SPD has temporarily slowed the proposed reform and wants to renegotiate. According to Tagesschau, the party is working on a model in which the fixed personal contribution for nursing-home residents is reduced. In this way, the SPD wants to limit costs for people in need of care and their families.
At the same time, the Christian Democratic parties want to prevent higher spending from automatically leading to higher premiums or an additional tax burden for people in work. The precise financing has not yet been settled. Nor is it clear which parts of the planned reform the coalition can implement jointly.
The conflict goes beyond a technical budget problem. Germany is ageing, increasing demand for long-term care. At the same time, there are staff shortages and older people’s incomes vary widely. A measure protecting residents from high personal contributions could increase pressure on the insurance scheme or the federal budget.
The government lists better support for informal carers, stronger community-based care and an adjustment of care structures as components of its reform agenda. In the current negotiations, the SPD is placing greater emphasis on solidarity and protecting people with high care costs.
Until there is a definitive bill, amounts and instruments will remain subject to negotiation. The forthcoming talks must clarify whether the coalition opts for higher revenues, lower spending, more tax funding or a combination of these. For Dutch observers, it is particularly relevant that Germany is once again grappling with the same combination of an ageing population, staff shortages and affordability that affects many European countries.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The German coalition is negotiating again over long-term-care reform.
- The government expects the care insurance scheme’s deficits to rise without reform.
- The SPD wants to limit nursing-home residents’ personal contributions.
Left
Arguments People who have paid premiums all their lives should not lose their savings and homes because of high care costs. Those with the broadest shoulders should contribute more, and the government should guarantee basic care collectively.
Values Solidarity, economic security and protecting older people.
Consequences Higher premiums or more tax funding may be necessary, but they would prevent financial insecurity for people needing care and their families.
Centre
Arguments A sustainable reform must both protect patients and financially stabilise the insurance scheme. This requires a combination of prevention, better community-based care, more efficient structures and a moderate contribution from different groups.
Values Sustainability, balance and feasibility.
Consequences A compromise could slow the rise in personal contributions, but would probably not spare every group completely.
Right
Arguments The insurance scheme should focus on necessary long-term care rather than unlimited coverage of all costs. Greater personal responsibility, targeted support and less bureaucracy could keep premiums and taxes manageable.
Values Personal responsibility, affordability and limited collective burdens.
Consequences A leaner system could protect public finances, but would increase the risk that people on low incomes or with extensive care needs fall through the cracks.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The renewed negotiations, the SPD’s position and the official deficit projections have been confirmed by Tagesschau and the German government. The possible financing choices have been described as matters still under negotiation.
- confirmed The SPD wants to reform the planned care system and limit personal contributions to nursing-home costs. — Tagesschau describes this as the position set out in an SPD document. source
- confirmed The German government estimates that without reform there will be a deficit of more than €7.6 billion in 2027 and more than €15 billion in 2028. — Mentioned on the German government’s website. source
- confirmed The reform agenda includes support for informal carers and strengthening community-based care. — Mentioned by the German government. source
- confirmed There is not yet a definitive bill setting out the exact financing. — The sources describe ongoing negotiations and the reform being temporarily held back. source
Editor's note
The financial projections come from the German government; the exact outcome of the coalition talks has not yet been settled. The text distinguishes established policy intentions from party positions.Sources
- Exklusiv: Geplante Reform SPD will Eigenanteil für Pflegeheimkosten deckeln — Tagesschau
- Gesundheits- und Rentenpolitik — Bundesregierung
- SPD stoppt vorerst Pflegereform — Tagesschau
- Pflege — SPD-Bundestagsfraktion
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „duitsland zorgverzekering”
- RTL Nieuws — „duitsland zorgverzekering”
- NOS — „duitsland zorgverzekering”