German long-term care insurance is set to be restructured fundamentally, and the federal government has asked an external body for advice. Since mid-October 2026, a care commission (Pflegekommission) has been in place to examine how care is financed and provided. If you want to know when first results are due and what the commission can actually decide, here is the current status.
Short answer: The Federal Ministry of Health presented the care commission on 14 October 2026. It has 13 members, and first proposals are due at the end of January 2027. The ministry names a structural reform that is to take effect on 1 July 2027 as the goal. Last updated: November 2026. The commission issues recommendations, and a law follows only afterwards.
Key points at a glance
- The care commission was presented on 14 October 2026 and has 13 members (Federal Ministry of Health, 14 October 2026).
- Prof. Dr. Georg Cremer chairs the commission, and Prof. Gabriele Kuhn-Zuber is co-chair.
- First proposals are to be presented at the end of January 2027. The ministry does not name a deadline for the final report.
- The goal is a structural reform that is to take effect on 1 July 2027.
- The commission is to make recommendations. It cannot pass laws.
What is the care commission supposed to examine?
The mandate published by the ministry is broad. Its centre is how long-term care insurance can be financed sustainably. It also covers an analysis of how spending has developed and recommendations for more efficient care. A further point is a better link between prevention and rehabilitation.
| Mandate item | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sustainable financing | Recommendations for financing that lasts and remains needs-based |
| Spending trends | Analysis of why spending in long-term care insurance is rising |
| More efficient care | Recommendations for getting benefits to people in need of care more effectively |
| Prevention and rehabilitation | Closer link, so that care dependency is avoided or reduced for as long as possible |
The table summarises the mandate in substance. The exact wording is in the ministry’s press release (in German).
What timetable applies so far?
The timetable has several stages, and not every stage is binding. The overview separates what is settled from what is named as a goal.
| Date | Step | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 14 October 2026 | Care commission presented, 13 members | Set up (Federal Ministry of Health, 14 October 2026) |
| End of January 2027 | First proposals of the commission | Planned, according to the ministry |
| 1 July 2027 | Structural reform to take effect | Goal, not yet adopted |
The details on the timetable come from the ministry’s press release. Whether the schedule holds can only be judged once the proposals are presented.
What is settled and what is not?
The set-up of the commission is settled. The federal cabinet also adopted the draft of a Care Reform Act (Pflegeneuordnungsgesetz) on 30 September 2026, according to the Federal Government. That law is not yet in force. The commission works on a second step, the structural reform. It does not replace the legislative process but prepares its basis.
A recommendation of the commission is not law automatically. A rule applies only once the Bundestag has passed it and it has been promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette. Until then, the current legal position applies.
What remains open?
Some points are missing from the press release, either deliberately or because they are not yet decided. This matters for the assessment.
- No end date for the commission’s final report is named.
- The concrete content of the planned reform is not yet fixed.
- No figures are given for the amount of financing measures.
- Details of the procedure after the proposals are presented are also missing.
If you plan around contributions or benefits, do not rely on proposals reported in the press. The adopted legal text is decisive.
Why this matters for students and new graduates
Long-term care insurance is compulsory insurance, and its contribution rates and surcharges affect net income directly. For students, new graduates and people without children, a reform can therefore become noticeable through contributions. Whether and by how much this happens is not fixed at present.
A reform can also change benefits, for example for care level 2 or for support for family carers. The care reform overview 2027 places the individual building blocks in context.
How do the commission, the law and the regulations fit together?
The commission stands at the start of a process. It examines questions, assesses figures and formulates recommendations. Those recommendations become law only once the legislature takes them into a bill. The bill then passes through the cabinet, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat before it is promulgated. Implementing rules, such as ordinances or circulars, follow after that.
For you, the order matters. A proposal from the commission may be missing from the eventual law or look different in it. It is therefore worth reading the actual legal text rather than press summaries.
Frequently asked questions
Who sits on the care commission?
The ministry names 13 members. Prof. Dr. Georg Cremer chairs the commission, and Prof. Gabriele Kuhn-Zuber is co-chair. Other members include Jürgen Graalmann and Prof. Dr. Heinz Rothgang.
Does the commission have legal force?
No. The commission issues recommendations. Whether and how they are implemented is decided by the legislature in the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.
Is there a fixed date for the reform?
The ministry names entry into force on 1 July 2027 as its goal. A goal is not an adopted date, however. As long as the law is not adopted, it does not apply.
What will change for my care contribution?
That cannot be reliably quantified today. The contribution depends on which financing measures end up in the law. The relevant figures are the ones published by your health insurer and the official contribution rate at the time.
Where do I find the most reliable status?
The most reliable sources are the press releases and pages of the Federal Ministry of Health and the legislative documents of the Bundestag. Media reports often reflect only an interim status.
What does this mean for students who are just sorting out insurance questions?
For students, it is worth looking at long-term care insurance early, because the contribution is usually paid by the insured person and changes would affect the monthly burden. Whether anything changes only becomes clear from the adopted text. Until then, the current contribution overview of your health insurer is the reliable reference.
What to do now
- Note the end-of-January 2027 date and check the published proposals of the commission afterwards.
- Follow the legislative process once a draft is before the Bundestag.
- Wait for the adopted legal text before making decisions about contributions or benefits.
- Ask your health insurer or care insurer which details already apply in your case today.
Related reading
- Care reform 2027: what is settled and what is still in process
- Respite care and short-term care: the combined amount
- Social area budget in care: what 175 euros per month replace
- Care allowance 2027: what changes and what remains open
- Applying for a care level: procedure, deadlines and assessment
Sources:
- Federal Ministry of Health, press release on the care commission, 14 October 2026
- Federal Government, Care Reform Act (Pflegeneuordnungsgesetz), cabinet decision 30 September 2026, status November 2026
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
