Union wants to raise contributions from long-term care insurance

Union wants to raise contributions from long-term care insurance

30.03.2011

The Union faction in the Bundestag announced today that its contribution to nursing care insurance should increase by at least 0.5 percent. Thus, the monthly percentage would be raised to 2.45 percent of the gross monthly salary. Employees subject to social security contributions would have to pay up to € 9.30 more for care insurance per month. Demographic change is also increasing nursing costs. More and more people will develop dementia in the future. In order to ensure the supply, therefore also the personnel costs would have to rise. Currently, employees in care facility are considered severely under-paid.

Demographic change of society
The society in Germany is changing. People are getting older and older, and so is the number of people in need of care. On the other hand, fewer and fewer people are working in the field of nursing. The wages are sometimes extremely low and the work is often very exhausting. To ensure the care of older people, a rethinking in society must take place. This will not happen without further increase in costs, as confirmed by numerous fund associations and social organizations.

No unity within the governing coalition
As before, there is no consensus within the black-and-yellow coalition as to how solid financing for long-term care insurance can be shaped in the future. Today, the deputy chairman of the Union faction in the Bundestag, Johannes Singhammer (CSU) announced a slight increase in contributions by 0.5 percentage points. According to the CSU politician, the premium increase is to be financed on an equal basis, ie in equal proportions by employers and employees. To compensate for the additional burden, the health insurance contributions should be lowered slightly in the same breath.

FDP calls for private care insurance instead of equal funding
The Federal Ministry of Health is currently preparing an amendment to the long-term care insurance. In contrast to the CSU, the FDP represents the view that long-term care insurance must be placed more in private hands in the future. Employees should also take out private insurance to provide for old-age care. Employers' organizations, too, argue in favor of a funded private health insurance, in contrast to the principle of equal financing. In the CDU / CSU one speaks rather for a slight increase of the contributions.

Health insurance against system conversion of care insurance
The health insurance DAK spoke on the occasion of the fourth day care in Berlin for „a reform of long-term care insurance within the existing system“ out. Clearly the cash register speaks against a „radical system conversion“ as demanded by employers and FDP. „The pay-as-you-go system has proven itself. The future financing of care must not be privatized and become the plaything of economic fluctuations on the capital market“, explains Hans-Peter Stute, Chairman of the DAK Board of Directors at the event. It is very important for people in need of long-term care that care insurance benefits are financed reliably and sustainably“. Mare called for the debate on rising financing costs to be carried out in a realistic manner, rather than biased and hasty to reduce the question of higher non-wage labor costs. In the light of demographic change, regular review and eventual adjustment of the contribution rate as a possible option should not be a taboo. At present, about 16 million people in Germany are 65 or older. By 2030 there will be 22 million people. Already at the introduction of long-term care insurance in 1995, the then federal government predicted that from 2030 a contribution rate of 2.4 percent would be required.

Mare warned in the direction of the Federal Government, another „Erosion of the income-related and equality financing of long-term care insurance“ make. Retirees, for example, already contribute their full contribution to long-term care insurance themselves. The amount of the contributions must continue to be aligned with the economic performance of the insured in the future, according to the DAK. It is still unclear how the coalition will agree. By the beginning of 2012, the FDP Federal Minister of Health Rösler wants to present a bill. Until then, people will work on the cornerstones of the reform. (Sb)

Also read:
Contribution assessment limit is lowered
Contribution increase expected at nursing care insurance
Increased care insurance required

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