Health
Care in the home is becoming more expensive – even with cost controls
Nursing home care is becoming more expensive even with increased cost curbs. However, there are still major regional differences (symbolic image). photo
© Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
For years, places in homes for those in need of care have become a growing financial burden for many families. Increased subsidies are now taking effect to cushion this. But how strong?
As of January 1st, a nationwide average of 2,576 euros per month was due out of one’s own pocket in the first year in the home – 165 euros more than at the beginning of 2023. The surcharges, which increase with longer stays in the home, were increased with a reform of the traffic light coalition on January 1st. January 2024 increased. This now slows down the increase in costs for pure care more. But payments for accommodation and food also continued to rise.
On average 1750 euros per month
With the highest surcharge from the fourth year in the home, the amount you have to pay yourself has now increased to an average of 1,750 euros per month. That was 79 euros more than on January 1, 2023, as the new analysis showed. It is available to the German Press Agency. In the third year in the home, the additional payment increased by an average of 140 euros to 2,095 euros per month, and in the second year in the home by 187 euros to an average of 2,370 euros per month as of January 1, 2024.
The totals include, on the one hand, the personal contribution for pure care and support. Because nursing care insurance – unlike health insurance – only covers part of the costs. For home residents, there are additional costs for accommodation, meals and investments in the facilities. Since 2022, in addition to the nursing care insurance payments, there have been special relief surcharges, which were increased at the beginning of the year. This reduces the personal contribution for pure care in the first year in the home by 15 instead of the previous 5 percent, in the second 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.
Higher personnel costs and a shortage of nursing staff
However, 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. The background is also higher personnel costs for urgently needed nursing staff. A nationwide average of 921 euros per month now had to be paid for accommodation and meals, which was 64 euros more than at the beginning of 2023. The share of 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.” The higher subsidies from the nursing care funds only partially compensated for the increase. If the states adhere to their political commitment and cover the investment costs of the homes, those in need of care would currently receive relief of 485 euros per month. The association expects a total of around 5.5 billion euros for the relief surcharges in 2024.
According to the evaluation, there are still large regional differences. The total costs to be borne by oneself were highest in Saarland on January 1st, with an average of 2,981 euros per month in the first year in the home. This was followed by Baden-Würtemberg (2907 euros) and North Rhine-Westphalia (2892 euros). Home places in the first year in the home were cheapest in Saxony-Anhalt with an average of 2017 euros per month.
According to the information, remuneration agreements between the nursing care funds and homes in all federal states were evaluated. The data refers to residents with care levels 2 to 5. The replacement insurance association includes, among others, the Techniker Krankenkasse, Barmer and DAK-Gesundheit.