Reformdebatte: SPD-Generalsekretär: Keine Leistungskürzung in der Pflege

In the context of care insurance reforms, SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf has firmly stated that the party will not accept any cuts in care services. Speaking on the evening of the 8th, Klüssendorf emphasized the significance of care, particularly for caregivers, those in need of care, and their families.

Klüssendorf underscored, "We will not accept any service cuts in care." He hinted at the upcoming cabinet decision on financial stabilization for the care insurance next year, yet refrained from specifying the implications. The SPD advocates for capping the out-of-pocket costs for care home residents at €1,500 per month, with the aim of preventing financial strain on families and ensuring a fair, solidarity-based system.

Anke Rehlinger, the SPD Minister President of Saarland, proposed this idea, suggesting a cap on the individual cost for a care home placement. According to a recent report, residents would have had to pay €3,364 per month out of their own pockets in the first year. The coalition government aims to resolve the projected billion-euro deficit in the care insurance by 2027 without resorting to general contribution hikes.

The finance minister, Carsten Linnemann, plans to present this proposal to the cabinet in the coming week. This follows a different approach by his predecessor, Nina Warken (CDU), who suggested expenditure cuts and revenue increases. Linnemann also emphasized the need for a comprehensive care reform and appointed an expert commission to explore these proposals, asserting that the current care system is not sustainable and could collapse by the 2030s.