EU policies on care for persons with disabilities face scrutiny as MEP Romana Tomc and colleagues from the PPE group push for financial fairness between home-based and institutional care. Their concerns spotlight the potential financial and administrative hurdles that might disadvantage home-based care—a key issue for persons with disabilities, their families, and healthcare providers advocating for independent living options.
This response answers Tomc's parliamentary question (E-003653/2025) posed on 22 September 2025, focusing on how the European Commission manages internal regulations and the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) amidst commitments from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
While the answer from Commissioner Lahbib's office references broad commitments such as the 2024 Guidance on Independent Living and the 2021-2030 EU Disability Strategy, it lacks concrete policy adjustments or numerical targets. A revision of the JSIS General Implementing Provisions is underway to improve long-term care coverage, but specifics remain undefined.
The underlying policy thrust prioritizes reinforcing disability inclusion and non-discrimination, aiming to eliminate indirect biases like higher reimbursements favoring institutional care. The emphasis falls on mainstreaming disability perspectives across policies, promoting staff with disabilities in EU institutions, and considering holistic support beyond mere medical expenses.
Stakeholders affected include persons with disabilities seeking autonomy—who stand to benefit from better home care options—and EU healthcare administrators and insurers who might face pressure to adjust reimbursement models. Institutional budget planners and EU taxpayers may experience moderate impacts due to potential shifts in funding allocations. The EU Commission is expected to provide further clarifications following ongoing JSIS reviews, signaling the future direction of policies balancing community-based care rights against existing provisions.
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