Eugen Brysch, chairman of the German Foundation for Patient Protection, is calling for the merger of statutory and private long-term care insurance as a solution to the financial difficulties faced by care funds. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Brysch stated that “courageous decisions are needed now within the black-red coalition,” asserting that combining private and public care insurance is long overdue.
The patient advocate argued that if both systems were unified, they would offer identical benefits, ensuring no one was deprived of care. He further pointed out that the social care system would gain financial stability for the next 15 years, citing that private care insurance currently holds reserves exceeding 40 billion euros.
Brysch holds the federal government and the states responsible for the deficits in the care funds, asserting that they share culpability for the financial imbalance in the long-term care insurance system. He noted several examples of governmental shortcomings, including Berlin’s failure to repay the 5.5 billion euros in Corona loans. Furthermore, he criticized the black-red government for refusing to take over the pensions for caregivers, a cost that has risen to five billion euros annually. Brysch also contended that the states have withdrawn solidarity when it comes to financing nursing home places.
