Revolution in care: PKV presents a courageous reform plan!

Revolution in care: PKV presents a courageous reform plan!

Care in Germany faces major challenges resulting from the aging of the population, rising costs and a serious shortage of skilled workers. In this context, the Association of Private Health Insurance (PKV) has presented a reform proposal for long-term care insurance that is aimed at long-term financing and structural modernization. The PKV plan includes the introduction of a so-called “care+ insurance”, which is intended to serve as a mandatory, funded additional offer. This new insurance will cover personal contributions in nursing homes up to a deductible of 10% and does not rely on the pay-as-you-go system, but rather on individual contributions.

An important aspect of “care + insurance” is solidarity compensation. Children should benefit from the new regulation free of contributions, while pensioners only pay half of the contribution. For young people, the contribution should start at around 44 euros per month, but increase with age. Important details are also the operational structure and the fact that there is no mandatory coverage for the outpatient area. The PKV also calls for greater commitment to private provision.

Comprehensive reform proposals

The reform plans contain many other points that are intended to ensure a comprehensive redesign of long-term care insurance. Among other things, supplementary care insurance should ensure that care-related costs are covered, especially if taken out early. Furthermore, the PKV is in favor of tax incentives for pension options; Employer-financed long-term care provision should be treated in the same way as health and pension insurance for tax purposes.

However, the expansion of benefits according to Section 43c SGB XI is viewed critically. According to the reform proposals, subsidies for personal contributions cause additional costs without the necessary social accuracy. In order to meet these challenges, a proposal to curb subsidies based on average values ​​per federal state is presented. A return to the partial benefit principle of long-term care insurance is called for.

Individual budgets and prevention in focus

As part of the reform, a switch to individual budgets for those in need of care is also being considered. Instead of fixed services, flexible overall budgets should be introduced, which give users the opportunity to pay out unused funds. Another focus is on prevention, especially in care level 1, where the focus should be on promoting advice, care courses, aids and living space adaptations.

In addition, the aim is to realign nursing advice, which includes comprehensive advice at the beginning and additional checks every six months. Reducing bureaucratic hurdles for nursing staff is also on the agenda, with the idea of ​​creating a unified digital platform for improved communication and data management.

Quality assurance should also be further developed in order to increase the comprehensibility of test reports and ensure the cooperation of care facilities. Finally, the PKV calls for a structural redesign of care in order to strengthen the independence, dignity and participation of people in need of care.

Comprehensive information on the topic and figures on the current status of care in Germany can be found in reports such as those from Bertelsmann Foundation and documented in various specialist studies.

The need for action is clear and the proposed reforms could potentially lead to a fundamental improvement in the situation in the care sector.