Nursing care insurance: Expensive care: contribution rate increases by 0.2 percentage points

Insured people and employers will not only have to pay noticeably more money for health insurance in the new year, but also more for long-term care insurance. According to Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, the contribution rate is set to increase by 0.2 percentage points in January.

The SPD politician said in Berlin that he had forwarded a corresponding government regulation to the cabinet. The measure is urgently necessary because otherwise some nursing care funds could find themselves in very difficult economic waters. Lauterbach justified the step with an increase in the number of people in need of care as well as rising wages for nursing staff and more nursing staff, which was politically desired.

According to the information, the Bundestag, in which there is no longer a clear majority after the traffic lights were turned off, does not have to agree to the increase. At most he could block them. According to Lauterbach’s own statement, this is out of the question, “then some nursing care funds would be threatened with insolvency after a short transition phase. Of course, no one would want that.” The Federal Council must therefore approve the regulation.

Mathematically 180 euros less net per year

Since health insurance contributions will increase by an average of 0.8 percentage points in the coming year, as the ministry recently announced, together with the now announced increase in the care contribution rate, this results in a mathematical increase of 1 percent. With a gross amount of 3,000 euros, that would roughly be 15 euros less net per month (the employer pays the other 15 euros) – so calculated over the year, 180 euros less.

However, the 0.8 percent of health insurance companies is only a guideline. The health insurance companies decide for themselves whether and how much they want to adjust the contribution screw. Specific predictions for the individual are therefore not possible.

Contributions have already increased in 2023

Nursing insurance expects red figures for this year and next. The traffic light coalition had already implemented a reform with an increase in contributions on July 1, 2023. This means that the contribution for people without children rose to 4 percent and for contributors with one child to 3.4 percent. Families with at least two children now pay less – based on the employee share – than before. The reform was actually intended to secure care finances until 2025.

Major reform on ice due to traffic lights being turned off

In view of the financial situation, Lauterbach had announced another major care reform. But nothing will come of this because of the failure of the traffic light. The Health Minister warned that a reform must come at the beginning of the next legislative period at the latest. “We’re running out of time here.”

Health insurance companies: Increasing contributions only brings breathing space

The umbrella association of statutory health insurance companies (GKV), which also represents the nursing care funds, said that increasing the contribution rate by 0.2 percentage points would only provide a breathing space, but would not solve the fundamental financing problem in nursing care for the next year. Instead of unilaterally imposing more and more financial burdens on those insured and employers, the federal government must compensate for additional burdens that were unjustifiably paid for from the nursing care insurance pot, said GKV board chairwoman Doris Pfeiffer. She referred to 5.3 billion euros in special expenses from Corona times, for example for tests or bonuses for staff.

Criticism also came from the German Patient Protection Foundation. “Those in need of care bear the consequences of the fact that a sustainable reform was not addressed early by the incumbent federal government,” said board member Eugen Brysch. “Those affected immediately need a Bundestag and a federal government that are capable of making decisions.”