Overview
- Health Minister Nina Warken warned of a €22.5 billion gap in the care insurance over two years, and officials are discussing paying higher relief tiers for care-home residents later, such as after 18 months instead of 12.
- These relief tiers are discounts on the resident’s care co-payment that rise with time in a home, currently 15% from month one, 30% after 12 months, 50% after 24 months and 75% after 36 months, so a delay would raise early out-of-pocket costs.
- Thuringia’s county association president Christian Herrgott said more residents would become social assistance cases, citing average monthly co-payments above €3,000 and rising municipal outlays for help with care.
- Separate changes already in force raised many benefits in 2025–2026, including for care level 2 with €347 a month in cash care, up to €796 in home-care services, €721 for day or night care and €805 toward nursing costs in a home, and since July 2025 families draw a single €3,539 annual pot for respite and short-term care.
- From July 1, 2026 a stricter basic income will replace Bürgergeld with faster 30% cuts for rule breaches and fewer safeguards, a shift that could push more low-income care users toward local social aid if their bills rise.