Long-term care insurance reform: Cabinet approves the draft, but the rules do not yet apply
The federal government has approved the draft Long-Term Care Insurance Reorganisation Act (PNOG). The proposals affect insured people in Germany, people with a care grade and families providing care at home, but they may still change during the parliamentary process.
Cabinet draft approved on 30 September 2026 · legislative process started · not yet in force
Proposed changes to care at home
The draft provides for ongoing professional care guidance, more flexible budgets for people with care grades 2 to 5 and an emergency bridging budget when a caregiver is unexpectedly unavailable. For people with a care grade who are under 25, the proposed community-support budget would be up to €300 a month. A digital Pflege-Cockpit would bring applications, information and benefit records together in one place.
Contributions and proposed timetable
If enacted, the additional contribution for members without children would rise by 0.3 percentage points to 0.9% from 1 January 2027. From 1 January 2028, the draft provides for a 0.52% surcharge for covering a spouse or registered partner, subject to the stated exceptions. From 2029, benefit amounts would be adjusted annually in line with core inflation.
What the draft means for care grades and what applies now
Assessment thresholds for care grades 1 to 3 would be adjusted for future assessments. Under the draft, people who already have a care grade are protected and would not lose it solely because of the new thresholds. Current rules continue to apply until the legislation is passed and enters into force, and the proposed dates are not yet final.
General information as of publication. Individual circumstances and the responsible institution’s rules may require additional documents or steps.