Germany is facing a total disaster when it comes to long-term care. Now AOK CEO Reimann is speaking out – with a clear message to the federal government.
On the occasion of current reports about the dramatically worsening financial situation of the statutory long-term care insurance, the Chairwoman of the Board of the AOK Federal Association, Dr. Carola Reimann, calls for swift countermeasures from the federal government:
"The financial situation of the statutory long-term care insurance is extremely critical. This year, we expect a deficit of 1.6 billion euros, and 4.2 billion euros next year. Although the situation has been escalating for months, the federal government has done nothing to address the problem and has ignored it.
We urgently need a financial reform that ensures the short-term liquidity of the LTCI and prevents an increase in contribution rates. This primarily includes the still outstanding compensation for pandemic costs amounting to 5.3 billion euros, which the LTCI has borne. In addition, a tax subsidy is needed for non-insurance-related benefits, such as the pension insurance contributions of family caregivers, which would also bring in almost four billion euros. Timely implementation of these two measures alone could have long prevented the dramatic situation of the LTCI. If the federal government continues to remain inactive, another additional burden on contributors amounting to 0.2 to 0.3 contribution rate points will be unavoidable."
