Nursing care insurance 2025: More expensive, but better for those affected!

Nursing care insurance 2025: More expensive, but better for those affected!

From January 1, 2025, the costs of long-term care insurance will rise. This was determined by a reform of the traffic light coalition in 2023, which aims to reduce self-funded care expenses. According to a report by the Time the contribution rate will be increased by 0.2 percentage points. The employer's share increases from 1.7 percent to 1.8 percent, which should lead to additional annual income of 3.7 billion euros.

The benefit amounts from the nursing care funds increase by around 4.5 percent. In the future, the contribution for insured people with one child will be 3.6 percent, while insured people without children will pay 4.2 percent. The amount of the contributions also varies depending on the number of children, although reductions are granted for families with several children up to the 25th birthday of the youngest child. The annual benefits of statutory nursing care insurance amount to over 50 billion euros.

Increases in nursing services

Financial support for those in need of care is also changing. The care allowance for people cared for at home is staggered from 347 to 990 euros per month, depending on the level of care. The relief amount for household help also increases from 125 euros to 131 euros per month. Around 4.4 million people in need of care are currently cared for at home in Germany.

The following increases in benefits result for fully inpatient care in a home: for care level 2 the amount increases from 770 euros to 805 euros, for care level 3 from 1,262 euros to 1,319 euros, for care level 4 from 1,775 euros to 1,855 euros and for care level 5 from 2,005 euros to 2,096 euros. The personal contribution for care costs in the home will increase, although surcharges will be introduced to ease the burden. These stipulate that the personal contribution is reduced by 15 percent in the first year, by 30 percent in the second year, by 50 percent in the third year and by 75 percent from the fourth year onwards.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach emphasizes that the goal is to limit the personal contributions for care in the home to 1,000 euros per month. However, the nationwide average of personal contributions is currently over 1,400 euros. There are various political approaches to reforming care financing: The SPD advocates limiting personal contributions, while the Union calls for tax resources and affordable supplementary care insurance. The FDP advocates a funded component and the Greens advocate appropriate state financing of non-insurance benefits.

Increase in services in the area of ​​nursing aids and digital applications

In addition, the care rates for care aids, measures to improve the living environment and digital care applications will be increased from January 1, 2025, such as Consumer advice center reported. Care aids for consumption increase from 40 euros to 42 euros per month for all levels of care. Likewise, the maximum amount for measures to improve the living environment will be increased from 4,000 euros to 4,180 euros, while digital care applications will increase their entitlement to benefits from 50 euros to 53 euros.

With regard to fully inpatient care in the home, the rates increase depending on the level of care: Care level 1 increases from 1,125 euros to 131 euros, care level 2 from 2,770 euros to 805 euros, care level 3 from 3,262 euros to 1,319 euros, care level 4 from 4,775 euros to 1,855 euros and care level 5 from 5,005 euros 2,096 euros. The introduction of a residential group surcharge of 224 euros is also part of the new regulations.