Resistance is rising from various regions concerning the care reform proposed by Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken (CDU). However, Magnus Jung (SPD), her colleague from Saarland, told the “Rheinische Post” on Saturday that while stabilizing the financial foundation of care insurance is essential, simply shifting the burden onto vulnerable people and their families will not solve the underlying issues-it will merely move them.
As a State Minister for Health, Jung strongly advocated for introducing a binding cap (“Pflegedeckel”). He insists that such a ceiling must permanently limit co-payments related to care needs, affording citizens genuine predictability in their planning. Furthermore, he stated that the current proposals constitute “a policy of social decline.”
Jung emphasized that any sustainable reform requires structurally strengthening the care insurance system and ensuring burdens are distributed fairly. Maintaining adherence to existing wage agreements is also crucial. According to the SPD politician, suspending these tariff guarantees would be an insult to caregivers and send a harmful message at a time when urgently attracting staff and retaining professionals is necessary.
