The Left criticizes the federal government's planned care reform
Quick Look
- The Left in the Bundestag has criticized the federal government's planned care reform and is instead calling for an improvement in care services.
- Parliamentary group leader Sören Pellmann accused the government of making cuts at the expense of those in need of care.
- The party proposes reducing personal contributions in nursing homes to zero and securing financing by including private nursing care insurers, capital income and higher contribution assessment limits.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The federal government is planning a nursing reform to stabilize nursing finances, including the cancellation of a planned increase in benefits for 2028 and changes to the assessment by the medical service of the health insurance companies. The Left criticizes these plans as socially unfair and instead calls for improvements in services and fairer financing.
The Left in the Bundestag has criticized the federal government's planned care reform. We urgently need to “improve the benefits of nursing care insurance, not worsen them,” said the parliamentary group leader of the Left Party, Sören Pellmann, to the dpa news agency. He accused the federal government of making cuts at the expense of those in need of care. "The great risk of poverty in care is apparently not an issue in this federal government."
Anyone who needs care needs more, not less, support from society, says an action plan from the Left, from which the dpa quotes. Among other things, the party proposes reducing the personal contributions in nursing homes to zero. In return, according to the Left, those with private care insurance, capital income and income should be included up to a higher contribution assessment limit.
The left would also make the states more responsible. If personal contributions to home care were eliminated as proposed, municipalities would also save on social assistance because they would not have to step in for those unable to pay, the party writes. According to the Left Party, the states should therefore make a binding declaration that they will invest part of the money saved in the care infrastructure.
Commission should develop proposals
The draft law passed by Health Minister Carsten Linnemann (CDU) passed by the Federal Cabinet is intended to stabilize care finances in a first step. For example, a planned increase in benefits in 2028 is to be canceled. “Technically sensible” changes to the assessment of those in need of care by the medical service of the health insurance companies are intended to limit the increase in the number of those in need of care. In addition, the contribution rates for childless people should increase.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The federal government will pass the nursing care reform despite criticism from the left in the Bundestag.
Likely · Within weeks
The Left will repeat its demands for zero equity shares and greater inclusion of capital income in further parliamentary debates.
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- How exactly should those with private long-term care insurance, capital income and higher contribution assessment limits be included in the financing?
- What specific measures are the states planning to invest in the care infrastructure?
- How will the federal government react to the left's criticism?
