Increase in care cases: GKV warns of challenges

Increase in care cases: GKV warns of challenges

The umbrella association of statutory health insurance companies (GKV) noted a drastic increase in the number of care cases last year. While around 326,000 new cases of care were previously recorded annually, in 2023 there was suddenly an increase of 361,000 cases, which corresponds to an increase of eleven percent. The exact cause of this increase has not yet been conclusively clarified, but it is speculated that this may be due to a catch-up effect as a result of the pandemic.

The GKV vice-chairman Gernot Kiefer warned of a possible more critical situation in care if this increase turns out to be a new trend. He also predicted that the increase would not continue indefinitely and would begin to level off in the second half of the 2030s, when the baby boomer generation is less present.

In order to secure the financing of care in the long term, Kiefer called on the federal government to act by January 1, 2025 and to examine alternatives to simply increasing contributions. A recently published study already indicated that a further increase in nursing care contributions could be unavoidable in the near future in order to ensure the solvency of nursing care insurance.

It was mentioned that a reform was passed last year to provide financial security for long-term care insurance until 2025. Among other things, contributions increased for those without children and those paying contributions with one child. The employer contribution was also increased. Further measures to stabilize long-term care insurance could prove necessary in the future.