Who covers the costs of home care?
Nursing care insurance is one of the 5 pillars of the German compulsory social security system. However, long-term care insurance is a partial coverage insurance that does not cover the complete financial risk in case of need of care, but supports care in the form of cash or non-cash benefits based on fixed rates. The amount of money not covered is to be paid by the person in need of care or his family as a personal contribution.
Care insurance pays if the expected duration of home care is more than 6 months. In addition, the nursing care insurance covers the purchase of nursing aids such as disposable gloves (up to 40€ per month) and subsidizes renovation measures in the apartment with 4,000€ per measure (e.g., having a ground-level shower installed, etc.) or the installation of a home emergency call.
In addition to the statutory nursing care insurance, private supplementary nursing care insurance can be taken out. If the anticipated need for care is expected to be less than 6 months, e.g. after a fall with a fracture of the neck of the femur, etc., the insurance company will cover the costs of the care. The family doctor can prescribe “home nursing care” by a nursing service.
These services fall within the scope of the statutory health insurance. Our next article could also be interesting for you: Degrees of care for dementiaYes. Through the contribution to the nursing care insurance, every insured person is entitled to receive cash or non-cash benefits from the nursing care insurance in case of need of care.
However, in contrast to the statutory health insurance, the nursing care insurance is a partially comprehensive insurance. It therefore only covers part of the financial costs that arise in the event of a need for care. Private supplementary nursing care insurance can close this gap.The nursing care insurance pays different amounts of money depending on the degree of care of the patient, which are divided into two categories: Nursing care allowance is paid if the care is provided entirely by relatives. If the care is provided by an outpatient care service, no money is paid out, but care benefits in kind are granted. A combination of the care by relatives and by care services is also possible, the care money is then paid proportionately.