The German Bundestag held the first reading on 5 November 2026 of the bill from the of the Federal Government, published on the same day. They show both increased participation in the to reorganise social long-term care insurance According to the federal government, the draft aims to make funding more stable in the long term, strengthen care at home and reduce bureaucracy. Following the debate, the proposal was referred to the specialist committees for detailed consideration; the lead committee is the Health Committee.
Key elements of the draft include bringing together previously separate benefits to strengthen home care, adjusting contributions and assessment, and modernising long-term care digitally and structurally. The Federal Ministry of Health also refers to plans to establish a scientific advisory board to review the assessment instrument on an ongoing basis, and to provide targeted federal funding for digitalisation in care facilities.
The next steps include hearings with experts and associations in the Health Committee. According to parliamentary sources, a public hearing is planned during November. A date in the coming sitting week is being discussed for the second and third readings; 11 November 2026 has been suggested as a possible date. Binding decisions, however, can be made only after the committee deliberations have concluded and the bill has received its final reading in the plenary.
Care associations and professional organisations had called for changes ahead of the debate. Their criticism focuses mainly on possible changes to care levels, the funding structure of long-term care insurance, and the involvement of practitioners and local authorities in structural decisions. The German Professional Association for Nursing Professions and the German Nursing Council have called in their submissions for additional relief, reliable funding for community-based care and stronger rights to participate in decision-making. Both organisations have left open the possibility of further public actions if key demands are not taken into account.
The concrete effects on contributors and people in need of care will depend on the committee hearings and any changes to the bill. What is clear is that the legislative process is ongoing, and the final rules will not be settled until after the second and third readings. Today’s debate marks the start of parliamentary consideration; it is based on the federal government’s documents published to date and the Bundestag’s agenda for 5 November 2026.
Editor: Clara Simonichek (Article created with AI assistance).