Long-term care insurance: basics

In short: Long-term care insurance is a mandatory insurance in Germany that finances benefits in case of need for care. It is one of the five pillars of statutory social insurance.

In more detail: The level of benefits depends on the assessed care level.

In detail

• Care levels: Five levels from minor to most severe impairment of independence.
• Assessment: The Medical Service checks care needs and assigns the care level.
• Types of benefit: Care allowance for home care by relatives or benefits in kind through care services.
• Partial coverage: Long-term care insurance often does not cover the full cost, co-payments are possible.
• Care leave: Relatives can take short-term or longer-term leave from work to provide care.
• Relief allowance: Additional budget for everyday support, such as household help.
• Advice: Care support centres offer free advice on benefits and applications (altersvorsorge-gesetzliche-rente-betriebsrente-und-private-vorsorge).