Care insurance in focus: Changes to the benefit surcharge are imminent!

Care insurance in focus: Changes to the benefit surcharge are imminent!

In the current discourse about the financing of long-term care insurance, IW expert Maximilian Stockhausen questioned the existing regulations in the “Rheinische Post”. He calls for the abolition or strict conditions for the performance supplement in inpatient care. Loud ad-hoc-news.de All those in need of care currently benefit from the supplement, regardless of their income or financial situation. This could lead to a significant reduction in the burden on the nursing care fund if older people with higher retirement income or assets were excluded from this subsidy.

Discussion about the scope of benefits is necessary, particularly given the financial challenges posed by the baby boomer generation, which is increasingly retiring. The challenges include the forecast of an impending increase in premiums of 0.3 percentage points in long-term care insurance by 2026 at the latest, as expected by the DAK.

Benefit supplements in fully inpatient care

The performance supplement, whose regulations are currently being tested, plays a central role in the financial burden on nursing home residents. For fully inpatient care, this surcharge is calculated based on the actual personal contributions to the care costs, including the training costs. The calculation is made by adding the specific care costs as well as the training costs and deducting the flat-rate benefit amounts from the care insurance fund, depending on the respective level of care. This is done by the Consumer advice center explained.

The duration of the stay in a care facility is calculated in months and partial months are fully credited. Changes in home or health insurance remain irrelevant when calculating the surcharge. An example illustrates how the costs are divided: A person in care level 3 who has been living in a care facility for 19 months has total care costs of 2,654.00 euros. After deducting the nursing care fund's share, you are left with your own contribution of 1,335.00 euros. With the 30% performance surcharge, this is reduced to 934.50 euros, which represents an important financial difference for home residents.

It is important to note that the costs for accommodation, meals and investment costs must still be borne by the person in need of care. The current discussion about benefit supplements could have far-reaching effects on the financial situation of many of those affected, which once again underlines the need for reforms in long-term care insurance.