Maintenance costs - Additional payments for nursing home care continue to rise
Costs for care home residents in Berlin continue to rise. On July 1st, the average cost was 2,895 Euros per month, which is 255 Euros more than the previous year. According to an analysis by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, which was obtained by the dpa. The accommodation in Brandenburg's homes is a bit cheaper. The cost of living for residents in the first year was on average 2,563 Euros, but even here, costs have risen. By mid-2023, care home residents had to pay 2,345 Euros per month - 218 Euros less. Nationwide, residents had to pay an average of 2,871 Euros per month out of their own pockets. That was 211 Euros more than mid-2023.
The costs include the contribution for pure care and nursing. The nursing insurance only covers - unlike health insurance - a part of the costs. For care home residents, there are additional costs for accommodation, food, and investments in the facilities. Education costs, which are also passed on by the homes, were included in the evaluation for the first time. This post was also included in the comparison values for July 1, 2023, as explained.
Since 2022, there have been relief grants in addition to the payments from the nursing insurance. With the reform of the traffic light coalition from January 1, 2024, the contribution for pure care will increase from 5 to 15 percent in the first year in the home, from 25 to 30 percent in the second year, from 45 to 50 percent in the third year, and from 70 to 75 percent from the fourth year on. The reason for the increasing contribution for pure care are mainly higher personnel costs for caregivers.
The head of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, Ulrike Elsner, said in view of the rising co-payments: "This is also due to the fact that the states are ignoring their responsibility." Alone the assumed takeover of investment costs by the states would relieve residents by an average of 490 Euros per month. The state should also bear the education costs. This should be resolved within the framework of the nursing reform announced by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).
The analysis was based on contractual agreements between nursing insurance funds and care homes in all federal states. The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds includes, among others, the Techniker Health Insurance, Barmer, and DAK Health.
- Consumers in Berlin are required to make an additional payment of 2,895 Euros per month for long-term care home residents, an increase of 255 Euros compared to the previous year.
- In contrast, residents in Brandenburg's care homes pay an average of 2,345 Euros per month, a reduction of 218 Euros from mid-2023.
- The German government introduced relief grants in addition to payments from nursing insurance in 2022.
- As part of the traffic light coalition's reform from January 1, 2024, the contribution for pure care will increase from 5 to 15 percent in the first year, 25 to 30 percent in the second year, 45 to 50 percent in the third year, and 70 to 75 percent from the fourth year onwards for care home residents in Germany.
- German states bear a share of the maintenance costs for care homes, as the head of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, Ulrike Elsner, suggested, which could relieve residents by an average of 490 Euros per month.
