Co-payment for short-term care: Understand costs and reduce personal contribution
16 May 2025
11
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
The need for short-term care raises financial questions for many families regarding co-payment. This article explains the cost structure in detail and provides ways to minimize your personal contribution.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The nursing care fund covers up to €1,774 for care costs in short-term care (care level two to five, maximum eight weeks per year); the personal contribution for accommodation, meals, and investment costs remains.
The personal contribution can be reduced by combining it with respite care (up to a total of 3,386 euros), a relief amount (125 euros per month), and half of the care allowance.
From the first of July 2025, there will be a unified annual amount of 3,539 euros for short-term and respite care, which can be used flexibly.
Co-payment Short-term Care: Understanding the Financial Challenge
Organising short-term care often raises questions about the amount of the co-payment for short-term care.
Care recipients from care level two are entitled to benefits from the care fund. [5] This support is relevant from care level two.
However, these only cover the pure care costs up to an amount of 1,774 euros per calendar year. [3]
Costs for accommodation, meals, and investment costs of the facility are to be borne by oneself as a personal contribution. [4]
This personal contribution can vary depending on the facility and federal state, often between 30 and 40 euros per day. [4]
Careful planning is therefore essential to avoid financial surprises. This section highlights the basic cost components.
Cost Overview of Short-Term Care: Services Covered by Insurance and Your Personal Contribution
Die Pflegeversicherung bezuschusst die Kurzzeitpflege für bis zu sechsundfünfzig Tage im Kalenderjahr. [1]
From care level two, insured persons receive a benefit amount of up to 1,774 euros for care-related expenses. [3]
This amount can be increased by unused funds from respite care by up to 1,612 euros. [3,8]
In total, up to 3,386 euros may be available. [3,8]
It is important to note that these grants only cover care costs.
The remaining costs, often referred to as hotel and investment costs, constitute the personal contribution.
A private nursing care supplementary insurance can help bridge this financial gap.
The exact amount of the personal contribution depends on the respective facility; it can, for example, be 50 euros per day.
Personal Contribution in Detail: How Your Costs Are Composed
The personal contribution in short-term care consists of three main components.
Firstly, this includes the costs for accommodation, such as room cleaning.
Secondly, they include the costs for meals, meaning all meals during the stay.
Thirdly, there are the so-called investment costs, which care facilities charge for maintenance and modernization. [4]
These three components are not covered by the nursing care fund within the short-term care budget.
A typical daily rate for these costs can quickly amount to 50 euros or more. [4]
During a four-week stay, this quickly adds up to a four-digit amount of over 1,400 euros.
Therefore, it is advisable to inform yourself early about the cost coverage by the health insurance.
Financial Relief: These Grants Reduce Your Share
Fortunately, there are several ways to reduce the personal contribution.
An important pillar is the monthly relief amount of 125 euros. [7]
This amount is available to all persons in need of care from care level one.
It can be used for accommodation and catering costs. [7]
In addition, during short-term care, the care allowance is paid at half the rate, for a maximum of eight weeks per calendar year. [1]
This amount can also be used to cover the personal contribution.
In certain cases, support from the social welfare office (“help with care”) is also possible if own funds are not sufficient. [5]
A state subsidised Pflege-Bahr insurance can also be an option to cover the costs.
The following options can reduce the personal contribution:
Use of the relief amount of 125 euros monthly. [7]
Crediting the care allowance paid at half the rate. [1]
Combination of the short-term care budget with funds from respite care. [3]
Examination of tax deductibility as an extraordinary burden. [8]
Application for “help with care” at the social welfare office in case of low income. [5]
These options help noticeably alleviate the financial burden of the co-payment for short-term care.
Expert Knowledge on Short-Term Care: Legal Foundations and Saving Opportunities
A comprehensive understanding of the legal framework is crucial for the optimal use of short-term care.
The entitlements and benefits are anchored in the Eleventh Book of the Social Code (SGB XI). [9]
This knowledge helps you fully exploit all the benefits to which you are entitled.
It's also important to know that nursing care insurance is mandatory in Germany.
The exact regulations can be complex, so a thorough examination of the paragraphs is worthwhile.
§ 42 SGB XI: The legal basis of short-term care
Paragraph 42 of SGB XI governs the entitlement to short-term care. [9]
It stipulates that care recipients at care levels two to five are entitled to short-term care in a fully inpatient facility. [11]
This applies when home care cannot be provided temporarily, not yet, or not to the required extent.
The entitlement is limited to eight weeks per calendar year. [6]
The care fund covers the care-related expenses up to the legally defined maximum amount.
Knowing this paragraph strengthens your position with service providers.
Our expert tip: Make the most of your entitlements
To minimize the financial burden of copayment for short-term care, you should combine all available entitlements.
The regular benefit amount for short-term care is 1,774 Euros. [3]
Additionally, you can use up to one hundred percent of the unused budget for respite care. [3]
This corresponds to an amount of up to 1,612 Euros for short-term care. [3]
In an ideal case, this provides you with up to 3,386 Euros for pure care costs. [3]
Also use the monthly relief amount of 125 Euros for accommodation and meals. [7]
Remember the half-continued care allowance; this is another amount that helps. [1]
Comprehensive advice on health and care can reveal individual solutions here.
Note the following points to maximize your entitlements:
Check your entitlement to the full short-term care amount of 1,774 Euros. [3]
Transfer unused funds for respite care (up to 1,612 Euros). [3]
Use the monthly relief amount (125 Euros) strategically. [7]
Calculate the half-continued care allowance. [1]
Inform yourself about possible grants from foundations or regional assistance offers.
This strategic use of funds can significantly reduce your copayment.
Care Reform 2025: The New Budget for Short-term and Preventive Care
From the first of July 2025, a significant change through the Care Support and Relief Act (PUEG) will come into effect. [12]
The previously separate benefit amounts for short-term care and preventive care will be combined into a single annual amount. [12]
This new budget will then amount to 3,539 euros per calendar year. [12]
Those in need of care and their relatives can use this amount flexibly for both types of benefits.
This new regulation offers significantly more flexibility and simplifies usage.
The six-month preliminary care period for the initial use of preventive care will also be eliminated. [12]
This is a positive development for many families who need support at short notice.
An example is the support after a hospital stay and subsequent short-term care. The adjustment significantly eases planning and utilization.
Application made easy: In four steps to short-term care
The application for short-term care should be submitted early to the relevant care insurance fund.
This can be done informally, but many insurance funds provide specific forms.
First, clarify the need and find a suitable short-term care place.
Then submit the application to the care insurance fund, ideally before the measure begins.
The care insurance fund checks the eligibility, especially the presence of at least care level two. [5]
After approval, the benefits can be claimed.
The billing of care costs is often handled directly between the facility and the insurance fund up to the amount of the subsidy.
You settle the remaining personal contribution for the short-term care co-payment directly with the facility.
Good preparation is recommended for smooth processing.
For example, at least three offers should be obtained.
Also consider a potential private replacement caregiver as an alternative or supplement.
Request an individual risk analysis now: Have your insurance situation reviewed free of charge and receive specific optimization suggestions.
More useful links
The Federal Ministry of Health offers detailed information about the benefits of long-term care insurance in the area of temporary full inpatient short-term care.
An overview of the care insurance benefit amounts for 2025 is available in this PDF from the Federal Ministry of Health.
The portal Verwaltung.Bund.de describes the short-term care service in the directory of services provided by the federal administration.
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides comprehensive data and statistics on the topic of care in Germany.
A recent press release from Destatis informs about the care statistics from May 2025.
Tables from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) show the distribution of people in need of care according to care levels.
The GKV-Spitzenverband offers recommendations for short-term care according to §88a SGB XI in a PDF document.
FAQ
What happens if the subsidy from the nursing care insurance fund for short-term care is not sufficient?
If the subsidy from the nursing care insurance fund is insufficient to cover the nursing care costs or the costs of accommodation and meals, the person in need of care must bear these as a personal contribution. To finance this, the relief amount (€125 per month), half of the care allowance, or, if necessary, funds from the social welfare office can be used. [5,7]
Is there short-term care available without a care level?
Yes, in certain cases, for example after a hospital stay for interim care when there is a temporary care need that cannot be covered otherwise, the health insurance (not the long-term care insurance) can cover the costs for short-term care, even without a care level or at care level one. [6,7]
What are investment costs in short-term care?
Investment costs are expenses that care facilities incur for the maintenance, modernization, or expansion of their buildings and facilities. These costs are part of the own contribution in short-term care and are not covered by the nursing care insurance fund. [4]
How do I apply for short-term care?
Short-term care is applied for at the responsible care insurance fund, ideally before the care begins. Many insurance funds provide application forms. At least care level two must be present. [5]
What changes will the 2025 care reform bring for short-term care?
From the first of July 2025, the budgets for short-term care and preventive care will be combined into a single annual amount of 3,539 euros. This amount can be used flexibly for both types of services. [12]
Can I use the relief amount for the co-payment for short-term care?
Yes, the monthly relief amount of 125 euros can be used for accommodation and meals costs as well as for care services during short-term care, thereby reducing the personal contribution. [7]
