People in need of care in Germany are increasingly under financial strain. This is the result of a study by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (vdek). The costs for new arrivals in care homes are rising particularly sharply. Their co-payment has risen by an average of 348 euros per month compared to 2022. Even for those who have been living in a care home for some time, the financial burden has increased significantly. Depending on the length of stay, the average increase is between €165 and €292 per month.
This rapid increase in co-payments is primarily due to the introduction of a tariff loyalty regulation for nursing staff, which came into force in September 2022. The resulting costs flow directly into the nursing care rate. In view of the ongoing wage negotiations and the new staffing levels in the care sector that will apply from July 2023, the co-payment of those in need of care is likely to increase further, according to vdek.
Dr. Jörg Meyers-Middendorf from the vdek Executive Board shows understanding for the measures to ensure fair pay for nursing staff, but criticizes the increasing financial burden on those in need of care. He calls for the federal states to cover the investment costs for care facilities. He believes that such a measure could relieve the burden on those in need of care by an average of 477 euros per month.
Source: vdek.com
© Photodune
