Germany to raise care levies on childless adults under new Health Ministry draft

Germany's Health Ministry has drafted legislation that would raise social care contributions for adults without children, Deutsche Welle reported Monday.

The measure is designed to address chronic underfunding in Germany's elderly care system. Adults who have no children would pay a higher rate than parents under the proposed rules.

The draft bill has not yet been passed into law and must still clear the legislative process. Germany's elder care finances have come under sustained pressure as the population ages and costs rise faster than revenue from existing contributions.

No specific new rate or start date was included in the summary published by Deutsche Welle, but the ministry confirmed the direction of the reform. The proposal is expected to draw debate among coalition partners over fairness and the burden placed on childless workers.