Additional payment for a place in a care home - Nursing homes are becoming more expensive - personal contribution increases
Care and living in a nursing home are becoming increasingly expensive. The self-payable contributions for care-dependent individuals and their families in Baden-Württemberg have significantly increased, according to an analysis by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds as of July 1. The average cost for the first year in a nursing home in Baden-Württemberg was 3,180 Euros per month out-of-pocket - an increase of 149 Euros compared to the middle of 2023. More than in Southwest Germany, only in Bavaria are higher payments required. The nationwide average is 2,871 Euros.
There are indeed cost reducers. However, the burdens continue to rise despite increased relief grants, which in turn increase with the length of stay. With the highest grant starting from the fourth year in the nursing home, the self-payment now averages 1,982 Euros per month. This is 39 Euros more than as of July 2023, as the data from the German Press Agency shows.
The costs include, among other things, the self-payment for pure care and supervision. The nursing insurance, unlike health insurance, only covers a portion of the costs. For residents and residents in the nursing home, there are additional costs for accommodation, food, and investments in the facilities. Training costs, which are also passed on by the nursing homes, were included in the analysis for the first time. This item was also included in the comparison values as of July 2023, it was explained.
Since 2022, in addition to payments from the nursing insurance, there have been relief grants, which were increased as part of a reform of the traffic light coalition on January 1, 2024. The self-payment for pure care will therefore amount to 15% instead of the previous 5% in the first year in the nursing home, 30% instead of 25% in the second year, 50% instead of 45% in the third year, and 75% instead of 70% from the fourth year on. The background for the increasing self-payment is mainly higher personnel costs for caregivers.
The analysis was based on remuneration agreements between nursing insurance funds and nursing homes in all federal states. The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds includes approximately the Techniker Health Insurance, Barmer, and DAK Health.
- Despite the increase in relief grants, people in need of care in Berlin might still need to make an additional payment for their care, as the costs can be quite high, especially in comparison to other regions in Germany.
- Living in a nursing home in Bavaria requires even higher payments than in Southwest Germany, making it a significant financial burden for many individuals and their families.
- The analysis by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds revealed that the average cost for the first year in a nursing home in Baden-Württemberg is over 3,000 Euros per month, requiring a substantial own contribution from residents and their families.
- In order to mitigate some of these costs, the reform of the traffic light coalition increased relief grants, with residents in their fourth year in the nursing home now paying only 25% of their care costs out-of-pocket, instead of the previous 70%.
- However, the burden on individuals and their families continues to rise, as the burdens for people in need of care continue to increase, even with these additional grants.
- The higher personnel costs for caregivers are one of the main reasons behind the increasing self-payment required for care and accommodation in nursing homes across Germany, including in Stuttgart and other major cities like Berlin.
