WRITTEN QUESTION E-0719/96 by Christa Klaß (PPE) to the Commission (26 March 1996)

Subject: Insurance for persons in need of care

In view of demographic trends in the EU and the resultant increase in demand for services for persons in need of care, the Commission's medium-term social action programme (COM(95)134) calls for Community action in this area.

1. Has the meeting of experts scheduled for 1995 to draw up a comparative analysis of existing schemes in Member States to cover the risk of care needs taken place? Who are the members of this group, and what results have been obtained so far?

2. Is the system of service cheques (chèques d'emploi) used in France in other sectors - which would enable persons in need of care to make their own choice of care services, and which could also create attractive jobs - included as an option in the recommendation to be drawn up by the Commission?

3. What action does the Commission intend taking so that - contrary to current practice - persons who, by virtue of a contract of employment in Germany, have been liable to pay contributions to German statutory care insurance schemes since 1 January 1995 but who have chosen to reside in a Member state other than Germany are entitled, to care insurance benefits?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (15 May 1996)

1. The Commission has set about collecting the relevant information to describe and analyse Member States' mechanisms for providing care-insurance cover. A study covering six Member States was conducted in 1993 and the idea of extending the study to all Member States is at present being examined. The MISSOC (Mutual Information System on Social Protection) tables are due to be modified shortly to incorporate this new risk.

2. The service voucher is one of the ways in which the provision of services for dependent persons can be paid for. As yet, no Member State has introduced service vouchers specifically to pay for care for dependent persons, but two (Belgium and France) have introduced service vouchers designed both to simplify the administrative procedures connected with family work and to reduce the cost. It is too early to measure the actual impact of these formulas on employment, but the Commission is monitoring their development with a great deal of interest.

3. Article 13 of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 ((OJ L 149, 5.7.1971 (consolidated version, OJ C 325, 10.12.1992). )) provides that a person who is employed in a Member State is subject to the social security legislation of the Member State of employment even if he resides in another Member State. If the legislation of the Member State of employment requires the employed to pay social security contributions, this obligation also applies to frontier workers.

In the field of health care, Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 ensures that frontier workers are entitled to benefits in kind provided by the Member State of residence and in the Member State of employment as well. In addition the Member State of employment has to pay the cash benefits.

The Administrative commission for social security of migrant workers is currently examining the question whether the German care insurance is to be considered as sickness benefit and, if so, as a benefit in cash or in kind. This is not a simple question, given the complexity of the German legislation. The Commission will provide the Honourable Member with the results of this study.