Nursing Care Pflege-Bahr often does not make sense

Stiftung Warentest shows: Pflege-Bahr makes sense only in individual cases

04/16/2013

The state-sponsored Nursing Care Insurance, the so-called „Care-Bahr“, is in most cases not sufficient to meet the needs in case of long-term care - this is the result of Stiftung Warentest.

Five euros subsidy from the state since January 2013
In principle, it can hit anyone, because according to the editor-in-chief of the "Finanztest", Hermann-Josef Tenhagen, around 50 percent of all insured persons are in need of care at the end of their lives. And that can be very expensive - therefore subsidies the state since January 2013 care insurance with five euros per month, provided that the insured makes at least ten euros monthly contribution itself and the insurance meets the government requirements. But how useful is that „Care-Bahr“ indeed? Should consumers, in view of the high costs of care, ideally conclude such a subsidized contract? This question was also asked by Stiftung Warentest and examined for the current May issue of its consumer magazine „Finanztest“ 17 subsidized tariffs and 23 tariffs without subsidies.

Subsidized tariffs insufficient
The testers came to a clear conclusion: the new subsidized tariffs are simply not sufficient, „to close the financial gap in case of long-term care. The non-subsidized tariffs, however, are worth more“, so the press release of the foundation. Care can quickly become very expensive: „Over 3,000 euros a month costs professional care often, if you are very dependent on care“, explains editor-in-chief Tenhagen.

Legal insurance only covers half of the care costs
About half of the cost of intensive care in the home or at home would take over the statutory insurance - which would mean, in reverse, that the insured would have to raise about 1500 to 1800 euros per month, „a total of several tens of thousands of euros until the end of life“, Tenhagen continues. But here, too, the 17 offers of new subsidized tariffs would provide only limited relief, because this test „In many cases, they offer a maximum benefit of often 600 to 700 euros per month, and of this the contribution for the long-term care insurance itself must be paid even further“, explains the expert.

Unsubsidized insurance brings more benefits
With regard to the maximum output of 600 to 700 euros per month, the services to be performed should not be underestimated, as the Foundation further points out: For € 600-700, a 45-year-old customer would have to pay between 10 and 16 euros a month 10 years older insured would even pay 14 euros and 26 euros. Accordingly, the Pflege-Bahr from the perspective of the Stiftung Warentest worth only in a few cases, for example „if someone does not get unsubsidized insurance because of their old age or illness or if someone is young and has an increased risk of illness“, According to the Foundation's press release, the subsidized product could be a sensible alternative, since insurers would not be able to refuse customers at nursing Bahr rates compared to unsubsidized contracts.

Great quality differences in unsubsidized contracts
In general, therefore, the recommendation of Stiftung Warentest in favor of unsubsidized contracts: „If you can afford to take care of your child, you should take out a care insurance without state allowance“, so the expert advice. However, should be looked closely, because even with the tested offers would have shown great differences, the ratings range from „Very well“ to „Sufficient“. For the „very good“ and „good“ Tariffs would have to include costs of around 55 euros per month for 45-year-old new customers and 85 euros for 55-year-olds, which would then secure the financial care risk in all care levels, the Foundation said.

„Care-Bahr“ can not solve the hedging problem of most consumers In summary, the investigation according to Hermann-Josef Tenhagen would have shown that the „Care-Bahr“ can not solve the hedging problem of most consumers. Therefore, Tenhagen recommends people who are still healthy and have the necessary financial resources, „one „good“ or „very good“ Nursing money plan without promotion“ or, alternatively, in old age to use their own assets partly or completely for the payment of the care costs. If you do not have the financial means, Tenhagen continues, „the welfare office will continue to pay for it - and then, if there are any, their own children with decent income.“ (No)

Also read:
Massive criticism of the Pflege-Bahr
PKV reduces contributions to long-term care insurance
Nursing insurance: SPD wants to ask PKV to checkout
New models of long-term care insurance in demand
Solidary care instead of private care risk
Rösler plans private supplementary care insurance
Contribution assessment limit is lowered
Contribution increase expected at nursing care insurance

Picture: Günter Havlena