{
  "id": 17066502,
  "title": "Reforms: Linnemann does not rule out cuts to nursing care benefits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/reformen-linnemann-schlie-t-kurzung-von-pflegeleistungen-nicht-aus-17066502",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-29T13:20:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/reformen-linnemann-schliesst-kuerzung-von-pflegeleistungen-nicht-aus/100265940.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Bundesgesundheitsminister Carsten Linnemann has warned that cuts to care services are not being ruled out due to the financial strain on the care insurance system. Speaking to the \"Handelsblatt\", the CDU politician stated that around 10% must be saved, though he could not guarantee no cuts would occur at any particular point. The coalition is already planning legislation to address an expected billion-euro shortfall by 2027, with a commission to provide further reform recommendations. The care insurance faces a structural funding problem, as the number of care-dependent people has risen from 2 million to over 6 million in 20 years. Without reform, a deficit of around 8 billion euros is anticipated for 2027. Linnemann hinted at wanting to tax care benefits more to target those who truly need assistance, with current expenses running at around 74 billion euros annually. According to the care associations, this rising burden should not be a luxury. The VdK called for a clear rejection of service cuts, stating that those in need and their families deserve reliability, not the certainty that cuts will follow. The care insurance still provides benefits to uninsured individuals, which should have been paid for by tax money long ago. The head of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, Eugen Brysch, warned against cuts to home care, as its failure could force hundreds of thousands into nursing homes where places and staff are already lacking. Linnemann emphasized his desire for people to remain in their homes as long as possible if they choose to, while also ensuring that care, family, and work can better coexist. He does not advocate for a mandatory private care insurance policy but suggests better tax benefits for private care plans. The proposed legislation includes expenditure cuts and revenue increases to avoid general contribution hikes in 2027. The contribution currently stands at 3.6% for those without children and 4.2% for those with, with plans to raise it to 4.5% for the latter. Linnemann acknowledged that increasing contributions for non-parents reached a limit. In response to the increasing burden on pensioners in care homes, he shared their concerns, but stressed that a cost ceiling would not reduce costs. The SPD, meanwhile, advocates for targeted support for those who need it most, while workplace associations highlighted the need for savings and praised Linnemann's remarks. Main business director Steffen Kampeter suggested focusing the contribution bonus for care-related contributions in nursing homes on those staying longer than 24 months, with the increase applied in steps and starting from the first month. Linnemann said he would wait for proposals from a commission tasked with overseeing contributions in the health insurance sector and aimed for stable contributions beyond 2027.",
  "summary": "Millions of people rely on care, but the costs are spiraling out of control. The Minister of Health says: \"We need to save around ten percent.\" What does this mean?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}