Applying for short-term care under long-term care insurance

You can submit the application for short-term care to the long-term care insurance fund informally, for example by telephone, email or post. With many long-term care insurance funds, you can also hand in the application in person at the office or submit it online.

• Submit the application for short-term care to your care insurance fund. If you are unable to do this yourself, you can authorize someone in writing.
• The long-term care insurance fund will check your application and inform you of the result.
• Ask the care insurance fund or a care advice center about suitable facilities for short-term care and the costs involved.
• The long-term care insurance fund usually settles the costs directly with the facility as part of the long-term care insurance benefits. You must pay your own share of the costs yourself. You may be able to receive reimbursement via the relief amount.

• You are temporarily unable to be cared for at home.
• You have care level 2, 3, 4 or 5.
• If you are classified as care grade 1, you can use the relief amount of up to 125 euros per month for short-term care. In addition, people without a care grade or with care grade 1 may be entitled to short-term care under the health insurance scheme (§ 39c SGB V).
  

• Application for short-term care
• if necessary:
  • Power of attorney, guardian's certificate
  • Medical documents
  • Proof of care insurance and degree of care

Further documents may be required depending on the care insurance fund. Please contact your care insurance fund for more information.

You do not have to pay anything for the application.

The long-term care insurance fund pays for short-term care services up to the maximum amount per calendar year.

You pay for your own accommodation, meals and travel costs for short-term care. If the relief amount has not yet been used up, your own contributions can be reimbursed.

There is no deadline.

As a rule, processing takes 2 working days. The duration depends on whether all documents are complete and conclusive. It may vary depending on the complexity of the individual case.

• § Section 42 of the Eleventh Book of the Social Code (SGB XI)

• Contradiction
• Action before the social court
  

Regardless of whether you are entitled to short-term care, since July 1, 2024, people in need of long-term care have an independent entitlement to nursing care in approved preventive care or rehabilitation facilities if the caregiver of the person in need of long-term care is also receiving inpatient medical care or rehabilitation services there.

This entitlement exists from care level 1 (in accordance with § 42a SGB XI). If nursing care is not possible in the preventive care or rehabilitation facility, the entitlement can also be exercised in a fully inpatient care facility.

04.11.2024