Applying for short-term care for persons with long-term care insurance
If your care at home is temporarily not possible, you can be admitted to a fully inpatient care facility for a short time.
Short-term care is possible, for example,
- if the person caring for you at home is ill, or
- Your apartment must be adapted to home care by means of conversion measures.
- for a transitional period following inpatient hospital treatment of the person reliant on care.
The care insurance pays up to 8 weeks of inpatient short-term care per calendar year.
The nursing care insurance covers the care-related expenses, including the expenses for care, as well as the expenses for medical treatment care of up to EUR 1,612 per calendar year. This amount can be increased by up to EUR 1,612 from unused replacement care funds to a total of EUR 3,224. (Status: 2021)
You can combine short-term care with unused means of replacement care. In addition, the relief amount can also be used to finance, for example, the costs of accommodation and meals. Replacement care takes place at home, while short-term care in your own four walls is not possible.
Short-term care is usually provided in an approved facility. An overview can be obtained from your nursing care fund. In addition, short-term care can also be provided in institutions that do not have a licence for nursing care if your caregiver is taking preventive or rehabilitation measures in this institution or nearby.
During short-term care, half of the care allowance paid so far will continue to be paid to you. For the 1st and last day, the full care allowance is paid.
Process flow
You can, for example, submit the application for short-term care by post and – with many care insurance funds – hand it in personally at the office or submit it online.
- Submit the application for short-term care to your long-term care fund. If you are unable to do so yourself, you can authorize someone in writing.
- The care insurance fund will examine your application and inform you of the result.
- Inquire at the care insurance fund or a nursing advice center about suitable facilities for short-term care and the costs.
- The care insurance usually settles directly with the institution.
Requirements
- They cannot be cared for at home temporarily.
- You have care level 2, 3, 4 or 5.
- If you only have care level 1, you can apply for the relief amount.
- If you only have care level 1, you can apply for the relief amount.
Which documents are required?
- if applicable: power of attorney, supervisor card
- Decision of the nursing care fund on determination of the degree of care (report of the medical service of the nursing care insurance)
- where applicable: medical documents
- if applicable: severely disabled person's pass
- Proof of health and long-term care insurance
Depending on the care insurance, further documents may be required. Please contact your nursing care insurance fund for more information.
What are the fees?
You do not have to pay anything for the application.
The nursing care fund pays for nursing services of short-term care. You pay for accommodation, meals and travel costs for short-term care yourself. If the relief contribution has not yet been used up, these own contributions can be reimbursed.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
You do not have to observe any deadlines.
Processing duration
Processing usually takes about 2 working days.
For a quick processing and decision, your nursing care fund must have the necessary information and, if necessary, necessary documents complete and meaningful.
The nursing care fund decides on applications promptly.
Please note that the stated processing time is an average value of all care insurance funds. It may vary in individual cases.
The exact processing time also depends on the complexity of the individual case and can be extended accordingly. The same applies if documents or documents are sent by post to you or your nursing care fund.
Applications / forms
- Forms: yes
- Online procedure possible: Many care insurance companies offer an online procedure.
- Written form required: yes
- Personal appearance required: no
To the application for short-term care via the cash register navigator of the GKV-Spitzenverband
Appeal
- Contradiction
- Action before the Social Court
Technically approved by
Federal Ministry of Health
Professionally released on
22.11.2021
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
