SPD blocks German cabinet nursing care reform over proposed benefit cuts

The SPD has threatened to block a planned cabinet decision on Health Minister Carsten Linnemann’s nursing care reform, objecting to proposed cuts in care benefits. SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf stated on Friday that the party “will not accept any cuts in care benefits,” warning that current proposals risk “massive cuts” for caregivers, the elderly, and their families.
Linnemann, a CDU minister, intends to present his draft law to the cabinet next week to stabilize the statutory long-term care insurance fund, which faces a projected deficit of billions in 2027. The SPD, however, is pushing for a cap on out-of-pocket costs for nursing home residents, citing a proposal by Saarland Minister-President Anke Rehlinger to limit monthly personal contributions to €1,500. According to an analysis by the Association of Substitute Health Funds, the average first-year cost for nursing home residents was €3,364 per month as of July 1.
Klüssendorf emphasized the SPD’s demand for “significant relief” for those in need of care and called for a fairer financial balance between private and statutory long-term care insurance. The ARD capital studio reported that the SPD may prevent the reform from passing in its current form, with further negotiations scheduled for Monday. Coalition sources confirmed that discussions on Linnemann’s proposal are ongoing .
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