Optimal care protection, shaping the future
nextsure offers you tailored care insurance for a worry-free future. Discover digital solutions for your personal provision and secure your financial independence in the event of needing care.
Digital Tariff Consultation
Flexible service options
Fast Online Completion
Why Private Long-Term Care Insurance Is Becoming Indispensable
Increasing Life Expectancy
Close the Financial Gap
Preserve self-determination
Relieve Caregivers
Understanding the statutory long-term care insurance: Services and limitations
The statutory long-term care insurance (SPV) forms the foundation of care provision in case of need in Germany, but its benefits are designed as a kind of partial coverage insurance and often do not cover the entire costs. It steps in when the insured, due to illness or disability, are expected to be impaired in their independence for at least six months and require assistance in everyday life. The amount of benefits depends on the determined care level (1 to 5) and the type of care – whether at home on an outpatient basis or in an inpatient facility. While the SPV provides financial support for care services, care allowance for self-organised assistance, partial inpatient care, or full inpatient care, a significant care gap often arises. The actual costs, particularly for qualified personnel or high-quality home accommodation, often exceed the statutory allowances considerably. This difference must be covered by the care recipients or their relatives from their resources, which can quickly lead to a massive financial burden. Therefore, understanding the limitations of statutory long-term care insurance is crucial to recognising the need for supplementary private long-term care provision, such as that offered by nextsure, and to make individual arrangements in a timely manner for comprehensive coverage.
Our Services
Comprehensive protection in case of care needs
Tariff Comparison
Transparent comparison of the best care tariffs.
Needs Analysis
Determining your personal care needs.
Online Degree
Complete your long-term care insurance digitally and effortlessly.
Pflege-Bahr
Information and conclusion of government-subsidised tariffs.
Service options
Flexible choice of daily allowance or cost reimbursement.
Contribution Stability
Tariffs with a focus on long-term stable contributions.
Immediate Protection
Options for insurance coverage with no waiting periods.
Expert Advice
Expert advice from our insurance specialists.
Care Levels
Comprehensive information on all five care levels.
Tailored plans for your security and financial independence.
Secure your future
Compare care insurance now!
Care Levels in Detail: How Your Need for Care is Assessed
The classification into one of the five care levels is the central point for receiving benefits from statutory and often also private long-term care insurance in Germany. Since 2017, the care levels (Pflegegrade) have replaced the previous care levels (Pflegestufen) and focus on the degree of a person’s independence. The assessment is conducted by the Medical Service of Health Insurance (MDK) for those insured by statutory insurance or by Medicproof for privately insured individuals. In a standardized procedure, the New Assessment Assessment (NBA), six areas of life (modules) are evaluated: mobility, cognitive and communication skills, behavior and psychological issues, self-care, coping with and independently handling illness- or therapy-related demands and burdens, as well as shaping daily life and social contacts. Points are awarded for each module, which are weighted and added together to form a total score. This total score is used to assign a care level: Care Level 1 (slight impairment of independence) to Care Level 5 (severe impairment of independence with particular requirements for care). The higher the care level, the more extensive the entitled benefits. An exact understanding of this system is essential to assess your own potential needs and plan appropriate provisions.
Private Care Insurance: Overview of Models and Tariff Options
Private long-term care insurance offers various models to close the gap in statutory coverage and meet individual needs. The most common forms are the daily care allowance insurance, care cost insurance, and care pension insurance. The **daily care allowance insurance** is the most flexible and widely used option. In the event of a claim, it pays a pre-agreed fixed amount per day, regardless of whether the care is provided at home or in a facility, and irrespective of the actual costs incurred. This money is available for free use. The **care cost insurance** works similarly to supplementary health insurance: it reimburses the actual, substantiated care costs that remain after the benefits of statutory care insurance or aid, often as a percentage or up to a maximum amount. It is usually more expensive and less flexible. The **care pension insurance** pays a lifelong monthly pension in the event of needing care. It is often associated with higher premiums, but offers a guaranteed payment and can form age reserves. When choosing the right tariff, factors such as the desired level of benefits, financial situation, entry age, and state of health should be considered. nextsure supports you digitally and competently in finding the optimal form of protection for your life situation and comparing tariffs transparently.
Care Daily Allowance Insurance: Flexible coverage for individual needs
The daily care allowance insurance represents a particularly popular and flexible form of private long-term care provision. Its core principle is the payment of a contractually agreed sum per day, as soon as care dependency occurs within the insured scope and a corresponding care level has been certified. The key advantage of this type of insurance lies in the unrestricted use of the benefit: The daily care allowance can be used at your discretion for professional nursing services, payment for care aids, home modifications, compensation for caregiving relatives, or other expenses related to the care situation. When concluding the contract, you set the desired daily rate, often tiered according to care levels. It is advisable to choose a daily rate that covers the anticipated gap between statutory benefits and actual care costs. Many tariffs also offer options for indexation to adjust insurance coverage for inflation and maintain the purchasing power of the benefit in the long run. Pay attention to any waiting periods, during which no benefits are provided after the contract begins, as well as the health questions in the application. An early and honest answer ensures the future entitlement to benefits. nextsure helps you identify a care daily allowance tariff that meets your needs with an optimal price-performance ratio.
Costs of a Long-term Care Insurance: Contributions and Influencing Factors
The cost of private long-term care insurance, meaning the amount of monthly or annual premiums, depends on various individual and policy-related factors. A significant influencing factor is the **age at entry**: The younger you are when signing the contract, the lower the premiums usually are, as the statistical risk of needing care soon is lower and there is more time to build up old-age reserves. The **state of health** at the time of application also plays a decisive role. Pre-existing conditions can lead to risk surcharges, benefit exclusions, or in rare cases, rejection of the application. The **level of desired coverage** is another key cost factor: A higher agreed daily rate in a care daily allowance insurance or more comprehensive benefit packages naturally mean higher premiums. Additionally, the **type of chosen policy** (e.g. care daily allowance, care cost, care pension) and specific policy features such as waiting periods, dynamic options, or premium guarantees influence the costs. It is advisable not only to focus on the price but to assess the price-performance ratio and the long-term stability of the premiums. nextsure offers you transparent comparisons and helps you find a policy that fits both your financial capabilities and your coverage needs optimally.
Demand
Analyse
Tariff
Compare
Protection
Complete
Government Subsidy: The Pflege-Bahr as an Option
The so-called "Pflege-Bahr" is a state-subsidised private long-term care insurance in Germany, named after the former Health Minister Daniel Bahr. The goal of this subsidy is to encourage more citizens to take out private long-term care insurance. Anyone who takes out an eligible daily care allowance plan and pays at least 10 euros a month from their own pocket receives a state subsidy of 5 euros per month, amounting to 60 euros per year. The key features of Pflege-Bahr are: There is no health check, so providers cannot reject applications due to pre-existing conditions (mandatory contract obligation). However, waiting periods of up to five years can be agreed upon, and the benefits in the event of care are often minimal, especially in lower care levels. Pflege-Bahr is intended as a basic cover and generally does not cover the actual care costs by far. However, it can be an entry point into private long-term care insurance, particularly for individuals who find it difficult to access other plans due to their health status or age. Experts often recommend supplementing Pflege-Bahr with a more comprehensive, non-subsidised plan to ensure complete protection. nextsure is happy to advise you on whether Pflege-Bahr is a viable option for your situation or which alternatives might be more suitable.
Care Abroad: What Does Your Insurance Cover?
The issue of providing long-term care insurance services abroad is becoming increasingly important for many insured individuals, whether for an extended stay abroad, retirement under southern skies, or care by relatives in the home country. Germany's statutory long-term care insurance (SPV) generally only provides in-kind benefits within the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland, provided that there is an entitlement to medical treatment at the expense of the German health insurance. Cash benefits, on the other hand, can be paid even during a permanent stay in these countries or worldwide, albeit often at a reduced rate. With private supplementary care insurance, the scope of services abroad heavily depends on the specific rate and insurance conditions. Many modern policies, particularly daily care allowance insurances, offer worldwide coverage, at least for a limited period or under certain conditions. However, it is essential to check the exact contract details: Does the coverage apply unconditionally? Are there any benefit reductions? Must the need for care be proven according to German standards? Be sure to clarify these points with your insurer before planning a stay abroad. Nextsure helps you find tariffs that also offer international flexibility and transparently informs you about the respective conditions for benefits abroad.
The right time: When should you take out long-term care insurance?
The ideal time to take out private long-term care insurance is a topic of great interest to many. The basic principle is: the earlier, the better. The main reason for this is the premiums: at a young age, the monthly premiums are significantly lower and often remain so throughout the entire term of the contract. This is because the statistical risk of needing care at a young age is low, and the insurer has more time to build up ageing reserves. Another important aspect is the health check. Younger people tend to have fewer pre-existing conditions, which makes taking out insurance easier and minimises the risk of surcharges or exclusions. If you wait until you are older or until the first health problems appear, coverage can become more expensive or harder to obtain. Many postpone the topic of care provision because it is often associated with negative connotations. However, securing it early means taking responsibility for your own future and maintaining financial independence and self-determination in the event of needing care. With the digital offerings from nextsure, you can easily get information and compare suitable tariffs, even if you are still in the middle of your professional life and the thought of care seems distant. Proactive action pays off in the long run.
What exactly does private long-term care insurance cover?
nextsure positions itself as your digital partner for tailored and future-proof care provision. Given the complexity of the topic and the multitude of tariff options, we offer you a clear, transparent, and fully digital solution to find the optimal care insurance for your individual needs. Our platform is characterised by a unique combination of an extensive portfolio of niche and special insurances, expert advice, and intuitive online processes. Together with you, we analyse your personal care needs, taking into account your financial situation and your desired scope of benefits. Our intelligent comparison calculators allow you to objectively compare offers from leading insurers and to easily understand the advantages and disadvantages of different tariffs – whether it's care daily allowance, care cost insurance, or care pension insurance. The entire process, from information to advice to completion, can conveniently be done digitally from home. Our SEO-optimised content and guides continually provide you with valuable knowledge about care insurance. Trust in the expertise of nextsure to proactively shape your financial security in the event of care dependency and to maintain your self-determination in the long term.
