REHACARE Report 2026

Between independence and systemic barriers

A woman is sitting in a wheelchair with an electric assist and is holding a smartphone in her hand

Assistive devices change lives

For people with disabilities and health conditions, assistive devices are essential for mobility, employment and living independently.

The REHACARE Report 2026 shows just how much of a difference they can make:

95% of respondents say their assistive device has a positive impact on their everyday lives.
86% experience noticeably greater independence.
74% were able to work with professionals to find a solution that truly fits their individual circumstances.

This is the positive foundation – yet the report tells not only a story of impact, but also one of obstacles along the way.

Why the report matters now

Assistive device provision in Germany is coming under increasing cost pressure in healthcare policy. At the same time, important decisions are being made that will shape the future of provision.

The REHACARE Report 2026 adds the perspective of people who rely on good assistive device provision to this debate. Because it is not only about financial stability, but also about reliable provision, independence and participation in society.

Presentation of the REHACARE Report 2026

On the first day of REHACARE, the findings of the REHACARE Report 2026 will be presented to the public for the first time. Join us to learn more about the key findings and the context behind them. Please note: The presentation will be held in German.

More about the event

Getting the right assistive device can itself become a burden

Between identifying a need and receiving an appropriate assistive device lies a process that many experience as slow, bureaucratic and exhausting.

I spend four hours a week dealing with bureaucracy related to my daughter’s assistive device provision. Without support from family and friends, it would be almost impossible to manage.

This burden is not felt equally. Women report it more frequently than men (74% vs. 60%), while people on lower incomes spend significantly more time navigating the process. And those who perceive the system as being primarily focused on cutting costs – almost half of respondents – experience a significantly greater burden than those who see it as a source of support (84% vs. 51%).

A person wearing a hearing aid makes a video call using a smartphone

Good care should not be a question of cost

The quality of assistive device provision is not determined by medical need alone. It also depends on financial resources and a person’s ability to navigate and advocate for themselves within the system.

61% say that cost-related requirements significantly limit their choice of assistive devices.
54% have had to use an assistive device that did not meet their needs because a more suitable alternative was not approved.

I often feel that it’s not about my health, but about keeping costs down.

I had to spend three hours explaining to a medical assessor why I needed an assistive device, even though it was clear that I needed it.

Nearly 60% of respondents agree that people who rely on assistive devices are primarily seen as a cost factor within the German healthcare system, while only 14% feel they are seen first and foremost as individuals.

In the current debate on healthcare policy, viewing assistive devices primarily as an expense falls short. They can help prevent the need for long-term care, reduce hospital stays and support workforce participation.

The findings of the REHACARE Report show just how important needs-based assistive device provision is for independence, the ability to work and participation.

Many people who rely on assistive devices would like more guidance and transparency when navigating the provision system.

REHADAT provides free, impartial information to help people find suitable assistive devices and support options.

Reliable information and good assistive device provision strengthen individual participation and make an important contribution to securing a skilled workforce, employment and economic performance.

Trust is built through people – not processes

Yet this potential is held back by a lack of transparency within the system. Only 38% feel adequately informed while their application is being processed, only 34% receive clear explanations when delays occur, and only 55% feel they are treated fairly in their interactions with health insurance providers.

The health insurance provider is often uncooperative: there’s always something else I have to submit, then this is missing, then that – and in the end, the application is rejected anyway. Even though I provide everything that is medically required.

Trust is built through people, not through exhausting bureaucratic processes or repeated demands for justification. This is where the true quality of assistive device provision becomes apparent.

Assistive device provision is a question of participation

Several people are playing a board game together; one of them is a girl in a wheelchair.

More involvement in decision-making, greater transparency and fairer access are not abstract demands. They are essential if assistive device provision is to provide genuine support – and if that support is to enable genuine participation.

The key question for the future is therefore not simply: Which assistive device will I get?

But rather: How do I get there – through a process that is clear, fair, fast and self-determined, without draining my energy?

All figures are taken from the REHACARE Report 2026, based on a representative online survey (n=1,527) conducted by INNOFACT AG in March 2026. Quotes are taken from qualitative interviews.

Newsletter

Sign up here for our newsletter and we will keep you up to date at regular intervals.

Subscribe to the newsletter here!

Social Media

Are you active on social networks? We would be delighted if you would also follow REHACARE there and become an active part of the community.