Köpping: Care reform must not be an austerity reform

In the opinion of Saxony's Social Affairs Minister Petra Köpping, the planned care reform must not become an austerity reform. After the cabinet meeting in Dresden, the SPD politician reported on the previous day's digital meeting of the federal and state working group "Pact for the Future of Care". According to this, the federal and state governments want to stick to care degrees in principle, but review and simplify the specific benefits.

People should stay at home for as long as possible

According to Köpping, people are concerned about the issue of care. In Saxony, almost 315,000 people are currently cared for at home and 49,000 in nursing homes. In terms of population, Saxony will be the oldest federal state by 2030. In future, care must focus more on prevention and start earlier than at care level 1, said the Minister, mentioning healthy eating in this context. People should be able to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.

Question of investment in care facilities still unresolved

One of the issues Köpping cited as unresolved so far was investment in care facilities. Saxony has around 700 such facilities and would have to shoulder 300 to 400 million euros in investments per year. However, care is a task for society as a whole, from which the federal government cannot completely withdraw. Financial burdens must be distributed fairly and equitably and care provision must be ensured equally in urban and rural areas.

According to Köpping, the federal-state working group has only made an initial interim assessment and discussed proposals. A key points paper for a major care reform is to be produced by the end of the year. The working group is on schedule. A solution must be sustainable and future-proof. Köpping considers it essential to limit the personal contributions of those in need of care. Accordingly, the personal contribution to the costs of a care home should be capped at 1,000 euros per month.

At the beginning of the year, the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds referred to a significant increase in co-payments for those in need of care. Accordingly, as of January 1, €2,720 per month was due out of pocket in the first year of care in the home - €231 more than at the beginning of 2024. From the second year in the home, the co-payment increased on average to €2,460 (plus €200), in the third year in the home to €2,114 (plus €160) and in the fourth year in the home to €1,680 (plus €108). The costs can vary depending on the level of care.