Overview
- The federal cabinet approved the Pflegeneuordnungsgesetz draft on 30 September 2026 and sent it to Parliament for debate and possible amendment.
- Key contested measures in the draft would replace separate payments with consolidated monthly budgets, exclude day‑care (Tagespflege) from a new Sozialraumbudget, and halve initial payouts for new Pflegegrad 2–3 cases for three months.
- The proposal would cut the level of pension contributions paid by the care insurer for family carers to 70 percent of today’s rate, reducing future pension accruals for many informal caregivers.
- Some revenue measures are already decided: the GKV stabilisation law changes Krankengeld rules that take effect on 1 January 2027, while the draft would raise the childless surcharge and lift the contribution assessment ceiling to bring in more funds.
- Regional ministers, care providers and social groups warn the draft will shift costs to families and risk reduced access to home care; Parliament and the Bundesrat will now decide final scope and timing, including a planned switch to Pflegebegleitung in January 2029 that may still change.