Overview

• The option to remove the lowest care grade is under review, but the government has not made a decision, according to the Health Ministry.
• Ending Pflegegrad 1 would affect roughly 861,000 to 863,000 people who currently receive a €131 monthly relief payment plus subsidies for home adaptations and caregiver training.
• An RWI analysis estimates annual savings of about €1.8 billion, a figure cited against an expected ~€2 billion funding gap in the long‑term care fund for 2026.
• Health Minister Nina Warken has been cautious, saying nothing will be taken away overnight while broader changes to secure the system’s sustainability are considered.
• The SPD rejects benefit cuts, and patient and welfare groups warn of a heavy blow to families, while Greens urge the state to cover pandemic‑related and other non‑insurance costs instead.