High additional payment for a place in a care home - Own contribution for nursing home care rises again in Hesse
Care-dependent people in Hessen have to pay an increasingly larger amount from their own pockets for a nursing home place. On average, 2,854 Euro were due per month for the first year in a home as of July 1, which was 235 Euro more than the previous year, according to an analysis by the Association of Health Insurance Funds. The average value for the first year in a home nationwide was even 2,871 Euro per month. That's 211 Euro more than in the middle of 2023.
The burdens continue to rise despite relief contributions, which increase with the length of stay. The average contribution in Hessen was 1,827 Euro per month with the highest relief contribution from the fourth year in a home. That's 107 Euro more than on July 1, 2023, as the data shows, which was provided to the German Press Agency.
More than just care costs
The sums include, among other things, the own contribution for pure care and caregiving. Since the care insurance only covers - unlike health insurance - only a part of the costs, residents and tenants in the home still have costs for accommodation, food, and investments in the facilities. Training costs, which are also passed on by the homes, were included in the evaluation for the first time. This was also taken into account in the comparison values as of July 1, 2023.
If their own assets and income, such as pensions, do not suffice to cover the costs for a place in a nursing home, the social welfare office steps in on request under certain conditions. Benefits from the care insurance are received by those who are insured and have had a care grade determined.
Since 2022, in addition to payments from the care insurance, there have been relief contributions, which were increased as part of a reform of the traffic light coalition from January 1, 2024. The own contribution for pure care will thus be reduced by 15% instead of the previous 5% in the first year in the home, by 30% instead of 25% in the second year, by 50% instead of 45% in the third year, and by 75% instead of 70% from the fourth year. The reason for the increasing own contribution is mainly higher personnel costs for caregivers.
The boss of the Health Insurance Funds Association, Ulrike Elsner, said in view of the rising own contribution: "That it is so high is also due to the fact that the states are ignoring their responsibility." Alone the assumed assumption of investment costs by the states would relieve residents and tenants on average by 490 Euro per month. It is also the responsibility of the state to cover training costs. This should be resolved within the framework of the Pflegereform announced by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).
The analysis was based on compensation agreements between care insurance funds and homes in all federal states. The Health Insurance Funds Association includes, among others, the Techniker Health Insurance, Barmer, and DAK Health.
Consumer information on care costs from the Consumer Center.
- Despite the additional relief contributions, care-dependent individuals in Hesse still need to make a significant own contribution towards the cost of their home placement, with an average of 1,827 Euro per month in the first year.
- The German Press Agency reported that while the average relief contribution in Hesse increases with the length of stay, it only covers a portion of the total costs, including care, accommodation, food, and facility investments.
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a renowned German newspaper affiliated with the German Press Agency, highlighted that the own contribution for pure care is set to decrease due to changes in the care insurance system from 2024, reducing it by 15% in the first year.
- Residents and tenants in nursing homes in Hesse can also expect a reduction in training costs as part of the Pflegereform, an announced care reform led by Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), which is intended to shift some responsibilities and costs to the state.
