Care - Own contributions for care recipients in nursing homes continue to rise
Care home residents in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern have to pay more money out of their own pockets. On average, residents paid 2,472 Euros from their own pocket in the first year of staying in a care home as of July 1, which is 103 Euros more than in the middle of 2023, according to an analysis by the Association of Health Insurance Funds.
The burdens continue to grow despite increased relief grants that rise with the length of stay. With the highest grant starting from the fourth year of residence, the average monthly contribution now amounts to 1,521 Euros. This is 43 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 average monthly contribution rose to 1,865 Euros. This is 91 Euros more than on July 1, 2023.
Care homes also pass on training costs
The self-payment includes the cost for care and supervision. 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 included in the analysis for the first time. This cost item was also included in the comparison values as of July 1, 2023, as it was explained.
Since 2022, in addition to payments from the health insurance, there have been relief grants, which were increased as part of the coalition reform 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 a care 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 onwards. The background for the increasing self-payment is 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, among others, the Techniker Health Insurance, Barmer, and DAK Health.
- Residents in Schwerin, part of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, also face higher self-payments for care home stays, following the trend seen across Germany.
- People in need of care in Schleswig-Holstein and Berlin, like their counterparts in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, mustcontribue more financially towards their care home expenses.
- The German Press Agency reported an average increase of 103 Euros in the first year of self-payment for care home residents in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, demonstrating the growing burden on individuals.
- The analysis conducted by the Association of Health Insurance Funds, which includes institutions such as the Techniker Health Insurance and DAK Health, reveals that relief grants are not fully offsetting the rising costs of care home self-payments.
- Despite relief grants in Care homes in Germany, such as those in Germany's northern states like Schwerin, Schleswig-Holstein, and Berlin, residents are still expected to contribute a substantial portion of their own income towards their care, as the analysis highlights.
