Germany tasks expert commission with major care reform due in mid-2027

The German government has appointed an expert commission to develop a sweeping reform of the care sector, which is due to come into force in mid-2027.

"Our mandate as a coalition is clear: care must be affordable and targeted, and it must reach those who need it," said Health Minister Carsten Linnemann on Wednesday after the commission was appointed by the Cabinet.

Linnemann said the aim was to "ensure good care provision and keep the contribution rate to the statutory care insurance stable into the years beyond 2030."

Prevention and early rehabilitation are to be given greater emphasis, the minister said. "It is particularly important to me to focus on those who take on responsibility for relatives at home every day."

The 13-member panel is to be chaired by Berlin-based legal expert Gabriele Kuhn-Zuber and former Caritas secretary-general Georg Cremer. 

"Initial proposals are to be presented at the end of January 2027," the ministry said, with the reforms expected to take effect in July. 

The government's care commissioner, Katrin Staffler, praised the process as "an opportunity for real change in care."

The commission builds on an agreement reached by Merz's coalition in late September after last-minute negotiations, which includes a rise in contributions for people without children from January. 

Germany's care insurance funds have warned that the system urgently needs billions of euros to stabilize its finances.