Overview
- Several state governments, led publicly by Saarland’s Anke Rehlinger, have proposed a statutory cap of €1,500 per month on care-related personal contributions for nursing-home places.
- Reported resident charges vary widely with a national average around €1,700–€1,800 and many cases above €3,000, with some individual bills reported at more than €4,000.
- Municipal social spending to cover unpaid care bills has jumped from €4.5 billion in 2023 to €6 billion in 2025, sharply increasing pressure on cities and towns to secure federal help.
- Federal Health Minister Carsten Linnemann has scheduled the Pflegereform for cabinet discussion in September and is setting up an expert commission to advise on implementation and financing.
- Policy options under debate include shifting investment costs to states, building a capital reserve for care, or changing care-insurance subsidies, and the choice will determine who bears added costs.