SPD faction leader Jochen Ott suggested that Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) himself served as a catalyst for a fundamental overhaul of how nursing care is financed. Speaking to Welt, Ott commented that a fresh approach to the system was recently put forward by the Chancellor. This line of thinking, Ott asserted, points toward demanding a greater role for private care insurance in financing the services. He argued that the outcome is essentially an effort to address the question of fairness. Furthermore, Ott strongly advocated for establishing a “care ceiling.” He stressed that such a cap is necessary because many individuals fear that they will be unable to afford necessary care, even if they have a good pension or additional company benefits.
Regarding the specific financing mechanisms, Ott proposed creating a risk equalization system between private and statutory care insurance. He deemed this a moral requirement, suggesting that balancing the burden between private and public insurance could mobilize approximately €3 billion.
Despite these calls for structural change, Ott sharply criticized the measures currently being planned by the federal government. He stated that while reforms are long overdue, what has been presented so far simply does not constitute a genuine reform. Ott told Welt that the proposed changes are “simply too little” and require a much more fundamental shift rather than merely being cosmetic or cutbacks. Finally, the SPD politician warned against imposing severe financial burdens on those who require care, noting that most people do not have the significant savings necessary to age with dignity, declaring this situation a disgrace for a wealthy society.
