The President of the Association of German Cities has sharply criticized the plans for care reform. "We have been talking about easing the burden on local authorities for a year and the plans for care now envisage an additional burden of one billion euros per year. I am shocked and angry," Leipzig's Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD) told the German Press Agency. He added that the financing of care must be supported with federal tax revenue.
According to him, care places are already so expensive that they have to be largely financed by social welfare via the municipalities. According to Jung, a care place costs an average of just under 3,400 euros nationwide, which currently has to be borne almost entirely by the local authorities if the financial contribution of those affected is not sufficient. "Leaving older people to the social welfare office is disrespectful," emphasized Jung. In Leipzig alone, contributions had doubled from 25 to 50 million euros within five years.
On Thursday, "Politico" reported on the basis of the department's draft bill that a package with spending brakes and additional revenue was to be introduced to financially stabilize the long-term care insurance system. According to the report, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) is planning higher revenues and cuts in long-term care insurance for 2027 with a total volume of 11.25 billion euros.
