In light of the debate surrounding increased personal contributions for nursing homes, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has called for cost-cutting measures and called on the federal states to take action. "My goal is to stop the rapid increase in personal contributions. Above all, the costs of accommodation have become more expensive, as has construction," Warken told the Funke Media Group newspapers on Saturday.
Too often, investment costs are passed on to residents, she criticized. "Furthermore, the requirements for building homes are often too strict. The states must review their regulations and standards in this regard," the minister demanded. "We must move away from overly rigid requirements and toward more affordable options."
The amount of personal contributions for those in need of care in inpatient facilities has continued to rise this year – now a good 3,100 euros per month are due. This is according to a data analysis by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (vdek). According to this analysis, the amount that those affected have to pay out of pocket was 8.3 percent higher as of July 1, 2025, than a year earlier.
According to the data, people in need of care in nursing homes now have to pay an average of €3,108 per month in the first year of their stay. As of July 1, 2024, this figure was €2,871 per month. The vdek cited rising personnel and living costs as reasons for the cost increase.
Warken reiterated the general need for reform of the social long-term care insurance (SPV). "Long-term care insurance is a great achievement. However, there is now a glaring gap between revenues and expenditures. This cannot continue," she said. The challenge now is to make the system fit for the future.
In this context, Waken also did not rule out the possibility of mandatory private long-term care provision. "Private provision should play a greater role. Long-term care insurance will continue to be able to cover only part of the costs in the future," Warken said.
Earlier, Chancellor's Office Minister Thorsten Frei (CDU) had already reminded people that long-term care insurance is only a "partial benefit system" and warned against excessive expectations of long-term care insurance benefits. It is "still necessary to make private provisions for the event of needing care," Frei told the German Editorial Network.
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