Health Minister Milojka Kolar Celarc said on Tuesday that the pension, healthcare and social welfare schemes would be overhauled in order to introduce funds for long-term eldercare.
Two variants are being discussed, she explained.
A study prepared in 2016 shows that in the next seven years, the number of Slovenians that will need elderly care will jump by 20%.
Two thirds of the funds are likely to be set aside from the pension and health insurance funds, and an additional 100 million euros should be ensured from other sources of funding, which is why a new contribution should be introduced.
The rates of this contribution are going to range between 4% and 25%. For instance, social welfare beneficiaries are to pay the lowest rate, and pension recipients are to pay 6% of their pension as that contribution.
In 2016, one in five Slovenians (19%) was above 65, and 4% of the population was above 80.
According to Eurostat projections, by 2030 a quarter of Slovenians will be adults in the age cohort above 65, which will adversely affect pension and healthcare funds.
According to experts' estimates, eldercare needs will rise in the next seven years and Slovenia will have to set aside EUR 250 million more than now for that purpose.