Care - Own contributions for care home places in Hamburg continue to rise
Care home residents in Hamburg have to pay more money out of their own pockets every month. On July 1st, the average monthly expense in a care home was 2,857 Euros, which is 266 Euros more than in the middle of 2023, according to an analysis by the Association of Health Insurance Funds.
The burdens continue to rise despite increased relief grants that increase with the length of stay. With the highest grant from the fourth year onwards, the additional payment now amounts to an average of 1,920 Euros per month. This is 120 Euros more than on July 1, 2023, as the data shows, which was provided to the German Press Agency.
Nationwide, the self-payment for the first year amounted to an average of 2,871 Euros per month - 211 Euros more than in the middle of 2023. With the highest grant, the additional payment amounted to an average of 1,865 Euros per month. This is 91 Euros more than on July 1, 2023.
The self-payment includes costs for care and support. The health insurance only covers a part of the costs. In addition to the costs for accommodation, food, and investments in the facilities, training costs were also included in the evaluation for the first time. This item was also included in the comparison values as explained.
Care homes also pass on training costs
Since 2022, in addition to payments from the health insurance funds, 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 be reduced by 15% instead of the previous 5% in the first year in the care 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 onwards. The background for the increasing self-payment are mainly higher personnel costs for caregivers.
The analysis was based on compensation agreements between care homes and health insurance funds in all federal states. The Association of Health Insurance Funds includes approximately the Techniker Health Insurance, Barmer, and DAK Health.
- Despite the increase in relief grants in Berlin, as part of the traffic light coalition's reform on January 1, 2024, people in need of care in care homes still have to pay a significant portion of their own money for care, with self-payment increasing by 15% in the first year.
- The German Press Agency reported data showing that in Hamburg, the self-payment for care home residents has increased from an average of 2,631 Euros per month in mid-2023 to 2,857 Euros per month as of July 1, 2024, indicating a worrying trend for those in need of care.
- In response to the rising costs, care homes in Germany, including those in Hamburg and Berlin, have started to pass on the training costs for caregivers to the residents, which were not previously included in the self-payment calculation.
- The Association of Health Insurance Funds, which includes prominent memberships like the Techniker Health Insurance, Barmer, and DAK Health, conducted an analysis that revealed the average self-payment for care homes in Germany has increased by 211 Euros per month for the first year compared to mid-2023.
