Brussels (Brussels Morning – September 7, 2022) As the second indexation of prices for residential care centers approaches, concerns rise over affordability. Vlaams Belang MP Immanuel De Reuse urges immediate action from the Flemish government to prevent nursing home costs from becoming unmanageable. Former Minister of Welfare Wouter Beke’s decision to allow double indexation due to inflation has led to calls for increased healthcare budget to maintain affordability.
Are Residential Care Centers Becoming Unaffordable?
With the impending second indexation of prices for residential care centers, concerns are mounting over their affordability. Vlaams Belang MP Immanuel De Reuse highlights the urgency, stating, “The Flemish government must take immediate measures to keep the nursing home invoice affordable.” He emphasizes the need for Minister Hilde Crevits to act swiftly by increasing the healthcare budget.
Calls for Immediate Action to Safeguard Affordability
Former Minister of Welfare Wouter Beke’s decision earlier this year to allow double indexation due to high inflation has raised alarms regarding the financial burden on nursing home residents.
Approximately half of Flemish residential care centers have sought and received approval for price increases, exacerbating worries about affordability. De Reuse emphasizes, “I already warned in March that the double indexation threatened to make residential care centers unaffordable.” Vlaams Belang urges Minister Crevits to boost the healthcare budget promptly to address this issue.
De Reuse stresses the necessity of indexing care budgets for the elderly and those with significant care needs, which have remained stagnant for a decade. He urges immediate action rather than postponing until 2024, stating, “The latter has not been indexed in the last ten years and is no longer sufficient. I urge the minister not to wait until 2024 to increase this, but to act on this now.”
