For a long time, many people in need of care and their relatives have had to deal with the fact that care in homes is becoming more and more expensive. Does a government cost damper now bring relief?
Erfurt/Berlin (dpa/th) – In Thuringia, the costs of care in a home for those in need of care have risen again, but the new subsidies will only partially cushion them. In the first year in the home, an average of 1857 euros per month was due out of pocket on July 1st – 85 euros more than on January 1st, according to an evaluation by the Association of Substitute Health Insurance Funds. The subsidies introduced at the beginning of the year increase with longer stays in the home and then dampen cost increases more strongly. Without subsidies, the co-payment would now average 1895 euros in Thuringia, 89 euros more than on January 1st.
Thuringia was therefore still relatively cheap in a nationwide comparison. In the first year in the home, a nationwide average of 2,200 euros per month was due out of pocket on July 1st – 67 euros more than on January 1st. Without subsidies, it would now be an average of 2248 euros as an additional payment for everyone, 69 euros more than on January 1st.
On the one hand, the sums mentioned include the personal contribution for pure care and support. Unlike health insurance, long-term care insurance only bears part of the costs. For residents of the home, however, there are also costs for accommodation, meals and also for investments in the facilities. The personal contribution alone for pure care has now increased – still without subsidies – in Thuringia to an average of 756 euros, after it had been 690 euros on January 1st.
At the beginning of the year, however, new regulations of a care reform also came into force. In addition to the payments from the nursing care insurance fund, residents of the nursing home now receive a relief supplement that increases with the length of care. The personal contribution for pure care should fall by 5 percent in the first year in the home, by 25 percent in the second, by 45 percent in the third, and by 70 percent from the fourth year.
Specifically, according to the evaluation, there were graded effects compared to January 1st and July 1st: In the second year in the home, the shares to be paid rose by an average of EUR 72 to EUR 1706, in the third year by EUR 59 to EUR 1555 and from the fourth year in the home by 43 euros to an average of 1366 euros. Reasons for the cost increases are increased wages and higher living and energy costs, as explained by the association. Because the subsidy does not relate to accommodation, food and investments.