Experience and viewpoints of the Medical Services of the Health Care Insurance (MDK) More than 11 years after its introduction in Germany, the mandatory nationwide longterm care insurance has proved to be an effective independent branch of the social security system. In the meantime over 2 million people receive benefits from this insurance. The rate of dependency on additional governmental support was considerably reduced by the insurance. However the future demographic development, the financial imbalance and budget problems as well as the increasing percentage of applicants suffering from dementia or other mental disorders and disabilities make a reform of the system and changes to the assessment procedure absolutely necessary. Because of the more than 15 million examinations which have been performed by the Medical Services of the Health Care Insurance (MDK), this institution is in a position to help analyse the current status, suggest modifications to the assessment procedure and influence in this way the future direction of the German longterm care insurance.
