Long-Term Care Insurance Slips into the Red: AOK Chief Speaks of Code Red

Meanwhile, within the CDU there is disagreement over the right course. CDU politician Carsten Linnemann positioned himself against pension cuts for family caregivers, thereby criticizing parts of the so-called Warken Plan for reforming long-term care insurance. The conflict shows how deep the disagreements over the system's financing run.

Dispute Within the CDU

The background to the discussion is the concern that family caregivers, who themselves can no longer build up a pension, would be additionally burdened. Linnemann explicitly opposed such cuts and advocated for a different distribution path.

The federal government is planning extensive social reforms, which could also include raising the contribution rate for long-term care insurance. A specific timeline or decision on the contribution level has not yet been publicly communicated.

Observers point out that the rising number of people in need of care is structurally increasing expenditure. Growing demand is meeting a system whose revenues are fed by contributions from those in employment.

AOK's Demands

The AOK chief called for swift measures to stabilize the revenue side and make long-term care insurance sustainable in the long term. Without countermeasures, a permanent deficit threatens that can hardly be absorbed by contribution increases alone.

Spending brakes in the care system are also part of the debate. Supporters point out that without spending discipline, any contribution increase would only help in the short term.

At the same time, experts warn that a mere increase in the contribution rate would shift the demographic burden unilaterally onto those in employment. Models are therefore being discussed that also incorporate federal subsidies, tax revenues, or a broader financing base.

Outlook on Further Reforms

By the summer of 2026, the federal government has not yet presented a conclusive proposal. The further course of the debate remains to be seen, especially since there are different ideas within the CDU about the direction of long-term care policy.

What is certain: The rising number of benefit recipients coupled with a growing deficit makes long-term care insurance one of the central socio-political issues of the current legislative period.