Maintenance costs
and Martina Feichter, medical editor and biologistMartina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.
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The care costs incurred for the care of those in need of care can quickly amount to a few thousand euros per month. Read here what cash and benefits in kind the long-term care insurance contributes to covering care costs and what people in need of care and their relatives have to pay for themselves!
Care costs - expensive old age
Many parents not only have to take care of their own children, they also have to pay for the parents' care costs. If elderly people need care, it can be expensive. Very few people in need of care receive so much pension and have so many reserves that they can bear the care costs themselves. The benefits of long-term care insurance are usually not sufficient either. The social welfare office and the adult children then have to step in.
Care costs: Subsidies from the care fund
If the need for long-term care is recognized, long-term care insurance pays grants from care level 2 to the care costs resulting from home care: Those in need of care can choose between care allowance and benefits in kind or a combination of both. The grants are based on the level of care:
|
Care level |
Care allowance per month
|
Care benefits in kind per month |
|
1 |
- |
- |
|
2 |
316 euros |
689 euros |
|
3 |
545 euros |
1,298 euros |
|
4 |
728 euros |
1,612 euros |
|
5 |
901 euros |
1,995 euros |
The care benefit in kind is granted if people in need of care are cared for on an outpatient basis by an approved professional nursing service. This subsidy is intended for care costs such as personal hygiene, help with eating and walking, nursing care measures and help with housekeeping.
In addition, people in need of care of all care levels (including care level 1) are entitled to a monthly relief amount of 125 euros. This money can also be used for services that are permitted (care service, day and night care, short-term care, cleaning aids, etc.).
Inpatient care
Even with full inpatient care in a nursing home, the long-term care insurance makes a contribution to the care costs:
- Care level 2: 770 euros
- Care level 3: 1,262 euros
- Care level 4: 1,775 euros
- Care level 5: 2,005 euros
This lump-sum payment in kind is only used for care, medical treatment and care in the home. To further cover the care costs, those insured with long-term care must pay a contribution. It can differ between the different nursing homes, but does not depend on the level of care. That means: Regardless of the level of care, all those in need of care in one and the same home pay the same care-related contribution.
In addition, those in need of care have to bear the other care home costs (meals, accommodation, investments).
People in need of care with care level 1 can use the monthly relief amount of 125 euros for the care costs and other costs of inpatient care.
Care costs: children are required
If the income and assets of a person in need of care plus the benefits of the long-term care or health insurances are not sufficient to cover the care costs, “help for care” can be requested from the social welfare office. This then takes back a share of the care costs of adult children of the person in need of care if they have sufficient income. The children can deduct these parents' care costs as an exceptional burden from the tax.
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