Overview
- Health and finance officials are negotiating an extra €1.7 billion on top of an existing €1.5 billion federal loan to keep 2026 care contributions stable, with union and CSU lawmakers calling a top-up likely and Greens warning it only defers the problem.
- Health Minister Nina Warken announced a new Bund–Länder process with two expert groups on financing and provision to feed into a 2026 reform, while pledging near-term proposals to avoid a year-end contribution hike.
- Sector strain is acute: an Allensbach/DAK survey finds 62% rate care as poor and average nursing-home out-of-pocket costs reached about €3,108 per month in the first half of 2025.
- Stakeholders clash over direction, with employer groups urging deregulation, staffing-rule relief and cuts such as scrapping Pflegegrad 1, and social associations pushing solidaristic funding, broader contribution bases and cost caps for homes.
- Pension pressures run in parallel as a Deutsche Bank/DWS report shows 83% doubt long-term reliability; the Aktivrente is set for 1 January 2026 allowing up to €2,000 a month tax-free after reaching the statutory age, and career-related protection under §240 no longer applies to those born after 1 January 1961.