High care costs cause resentment and demands

New figures on rising care costs have led to louder calls for fundamental reform in this area. Alongside the Left Party in Saxony, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) is also calling for swift decisions. "Our country has the strength and the means to enable everyone to age with dignity. So far, however, this has not been the case," explained Susanne Schaper, Chairwoman of the Left Party in Saxony.

BSW calls high increase in co-payments a scandal

BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht described the sharp rise in co-payments in care homes as a scandal. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) had "failed across the board". "If the next federal government does not intervene, the costs will soon exceed 3,000 euros per month in Saxony too. The outrageously high co-payments are a de facto expropriation of those in need of care," she told the German Press Agency.

Wagenknecht wants a maximum cost cap of 1,000 euros per month

According to Wagenknecht, care homes are increasingly becoming a poverty trap. "We need a care cost cap of a maximum of 1,000 euros per month. The personal contributions must not be higher than the average pension. It would be affordable if all citizens paid into the care fund," emphasized Wagenknecht. The BSW is therefore also calling for the new federal ministers and members of the Bundestag to be obliged to pay into the fund.

Left-wing politician Schaper calls for fair funding

According to Schaper, the longer the stay in the home, the more the care insurance companies pay. "But that doesn't change the basic problem: even two good pensions are no longer enough to cover the costs of care homes. More and more people who have worked hard all their lives are becoming welfare cases in old age." Schaper referred to a motion in the state parliament aimed at stabilizing care insurance funds and relieving the burden on contributors.

"Here in the east, the retirement income of many people is low because company pensions, home ownership or rental income are less common. For them in particular, it is imperative that the long-term care insurance scheme is converted into a full insurance scheme based on solidarity," argued Schaper. Everyone who earns an income in this country should pay into the statutory long-term care insurance funds. In addition, Saxony must finally introduce a care allowance.

Leftists want a state care allowance based on the Bavarian model

"We also propose a state care allowance of 1,500 euros per care allowance year for free disposal, based on the Bavarian model, in order to preserve at least some financial self-determination for those in need of care," emphasized Schaper. If nothing was done, more and more people would need social benefits at the end of their lives. In Saxony, more than 20,000 people are already affected by this.

According to the Ersatzkassenverband, the personal contribution of people in need of care in care homes in Saxony has risen significantly within a year. As of January 1, 2025, €2,720 per month was due out of pocket in the first year in the home - €231 more than at the beginning of 2024. From the second year in the home, the co-payment rose on average to €2,460 (plus €200), in the third year in the home to €2,114 (plus €160) and in the fourth year in the home to €1,680 (plus €108).