Rising care costs - Lauterbach checks limit for self-share in nursing home
In the face of increasing financial burdens for care-dependent individuals and their families, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is considering setting a limit for self-payable costs. According to ARD-Hauptstadtstudio, the SPD politician said: "We need to come to the point where we might work with a cap for the self-pay portion. We are currently examining this." Additionally, it is being investigated how investment costs can be more heavily borne by the states. "The states are doing too little. This falls on the feet of the insured, the care recipients," said Lauterbach.
Despite cost containment measures, the self-pay portion continues to rise according to an evaluation by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds. As of July 1st, the average self-pay amount in a nursing home nationwide was 2,871 Euros per month - an increase of 211 Euros compared to mid-2023. Reasons for the higher costs include increased energy and food costs, as well as higher wages for caregivers. The burdens also increase with increased relief grants, which are based on the duration of the nursing home stay. Therefore, demands for further easing before the Bundestag election in 2025 are growing louder.
Lauterbach also referred to the fact that self-payments decrease when care-dependent individuals have to be stationarily cared for for several years. "But there is still a lot left," said the Health Minister. "For new care-dependent individuals who only live in care for a few years, this is of course a significant burden. We will come with a regulation in the fall," said Lauterbach. The Minister did not specify how high the cap for the self-pay portion should be from his perspective.
- The consideration of setting a limit for self-payable costs in nursing homes is being explored by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach in Germany, due to rising financial burdens for care-dependent individuals and their families.
- Lauterbach, an SPD politician, suggested that a cap for the self-pay portion could be a potential solution, as investment costs are being examined for the states to bear more heavily.
- In Berlin, the average self-pay amount in a nursing home increased to 2,871 Euros per month as of July 1st, according to an evaluation by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds.
- As care costs continue to rise, ARDE reported that Lauterbach criticized the states for doing too little, placing the burden on the insured and care recipients.
- The need for further easement before the Bundestag election in 2025 is growing louder among those affected by care-dependent persons' self-paying costs in Germany.
