State Union Caucus Leaders Criticize Warken's Long-Term Care Reform

The leaders of the Union parliamentary groups from southern and eastern Germany are calling on the federal government to make improvements to the reform of health insurance and long-term care insurance. In a joint resolution, the parliamentary group leaders from Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia are calling on Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) to pay greater attention to the needs of family caregivers. They also demand that health insurance coverage for recipients of the citizen’s income be financed with taxpayer money.

No cuts for family caregivers, the “everyday heroes”

“Family caregivers are our country’s largest long-term care service. It sends completely the wrong signal if, as part of the long-term care reform, only about 70 percent of the previous contributions are to be paid into the pension insurance system on their behalf,” said CSU parliamentary group leader Klaus Holetschek from Bavaria. This would come back to haunt them in old age and devalue their important commitment. 

Guido Heuer, chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt, called family caregivers “everyday heroes.” They deserve appreciation and support. The CDU and CSU parliamentary group leaders clearly rejected any cost-cutting measures at their expense.

“Equally problematic is the delayed effectiveness of the nursing care insurance fund’s supplements to the out-of-pocket costs for nursing home placements, as this leads to significant additional burdens on those affected and a growing need for nursing care assistance,” Holetschek emphasized. This is merely a shifting of the burden onto those affected and the municipalities. “Here we say clearly: Stop, and we demand improvements in the parliamentary process.”

Vogt: Social Security contributions must not be allowed to spiral out of control

“Social security contributions must not continue to slip away from people and businesses. Every additional contribution point is a punitive tax on work and performance. Anyone who wants to make Germany more competitive and fairer again must reduce the burden on labor,” said Tobias Vogt, chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the Baden-Württemberg state parliament. That is why non-insurance-related benefits must be removed from the social security funds. “Health insurance for recipients of the citizen’s income is a responsibility for society as a whole and belongs in the federal budget. There, funding is more broadly based—through general taxes on income, consumption, profits, and investment income.”

Healthcare and long-term care reforms are necessary because our welfare state can only remain effective with sound finances, emphasized Daniel Peters, CDU parliamentary group leader from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Now, he said, it is crucial to “wisely refine” the reforms that have been set in motion through the parliamentary process and to “distribute the burdens fairly.” This also includes Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) finally settling the billions in COVID-related debts owed to long-term care insurance, rather than continuing to leave them to be borne by contributors.”

Warning: Proven structures must not be jeopardized

Christian Hartmann, the CDU parliamentary group leader in Saxony, warned against jeopardizing proven structures with the reforms. In addition to inpatient care and emergency medical services, this also applies, for example, to the planned requirement that orthodontic treatment be provided exclusively by board-certified specialists. “Furthermore, we must not create additional bureaucracy—the planned expansion of inspections by the Medical Service is the wrong approach here.” 

For Andreas Bühl, chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament, it is also important that the long-term care reform does not trigger new fears of social decline. “In Thuringia in particular, many people do not have large pensions or substantial savings. For them, long-term care is not an abstract financial issue, but a matter of dignity, security, and affordability in everyday life.” Long-term care must remain affordable—both in nursing homes and at home.

Reform plans are also a contentious issue within the Berlin coalition

Even within the federal government, opinions on Warken’s reform plans vary widely. The focus is on further spending cuts—for example, regarding pension contributions for family caregivers, assessment criteria for care levels, and relief allowances for nursing home residents. Local governments have also already expressed alarm over the threat of increased spending on social assistance.