The costs for nursing home care continued to rise at the turn of the year, even though higher relief surcharges have been in effect since the beginning of the year. There are sometimes significant differences in costs regionally.
Nursing home care is becoming increasingly expensive. As an evaluation by the Association of Substitute Insurance Funds shows, as of January 1, 2024, an average of around 2,576 euros per month was due out of one’s own pocket nationwide in the first year in the home – 165 euros more than at the beginning of 2023.
Since 2022, in addition to the care insurance payments, there have been special relief surcharges that were increased at the beginning of the year: the personal contribution to pure care in the first year is now 15 percent instead of the previous five percent. The longer the stay in the home lasts, the higher these relief surcharges become. In the second year he reduces the personal contribution to care by 30 instead of 25 percent, in the third by 50 instead of 45 percent and from the fourth year in the home by 75 instead of 70 percent.
And yet, according to the evaluation, the personal contribution for pure care also continued to rise – without surcharges, to an average of 1,377 euros as of January 1, 2024. That was 238 euros per month more than at the beginning of 2023. Because the nursing homes are passing on the increased personnel costs for urgently needed skilled workers passed on to the residents.
Significant regional differences
In addition to the costs incurred for pure care, payments for accommodation and food and investments in the facility are also due. Because nursing care insurance – unlike health insurance – only covers part of the costs. They have also recently increased further: the nationwide average was 921 euros per month as of January 1st, 64 euros more than at the beginning of 2023. The share for investment costs rose by 13 euros to 485 euros.
The head of the substitute health insurance association, Ulrike Elsner, said: “The places in the home have once again become more expensive for those in need of care.” There are clear regional differences: the total self-paying costs as of January 1st were highest in Saarland, with an average of 2,981 euros per month in the first year in the home. This was followed by Baden-Würtemberg (2,907 euros) and North Rhine-Westphalia (2,892 euros). Home places in the first year in the home were then cheapest in Saxony-Anhalt with an average of 2,017 euros per month.
If the states kept their political commitment and covered the investment costs of the homes, those in need of care would currently be relieved of 485 euros per month. The association expects a total of around 5.5 billion euros for the relief surcharges in 2024.