All about this insurance: Long-term care
Do I need private long-term care insurance in Germany?
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How much does a care home cost in Germany, and what does care insurance pay?
In short
In the first year, care home residents in Germany pay on average EUR 3,364 a month out of their own pocket, between EUR 2,891 and 3,761 depending on the federal state. Statutory long-term care insurance pays EUR 805 to 2,096 depending on the care grade, plus a supplement that grows the longer you stay. Room, meals and investment costs are always yours to pay.
What it costs
Average own shares in care homes and statutory care insurance benefits in Germany, 2026.
| Example | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Own share first year, national average | EUR 3,364 a month |
| Own share first year, Saxony-Anhalt to Bremen | EUR 2,891 to 3,761 a month |
| Own share second year, national average | about EUR 3,050 a month |
| Own share third year, national average | about EUR 2,630 a month |
| Own share from year four, national average | about EUR 2,110 a month |
| Care insurance in a home, care grades 2 to 5 | EUR 805 to 2,096 a month |
First year figures and insurance benefits from the sources listed. Values from year two are our own calculation from the averages and supplements, rounded. The cost of your chosen home can differ considerably.
Worked example
Care grade 3, average cost home, pension EUR 1,500
This is the bill in the first year, rounded and based on national averages.
| Total monthly bill of the home | about EUR 5,000 |
| Care insurance, care grade 3 | minus EUR 1,319 |
| 15 percent supplement on the care share | minus about EUR 313 |
| Own share | about EUR 3,364 |
| Pension | minus EUR 1,500 |
| Monthly gap | about EUR 1,860 |
About EUR 22,000 is missing in the first year. Savings of EUR 50,000 are gone after a little over two years, even though the own share falls slightly in that time.
What the care home bill is made of
A German care home bill has four parts: the care itself, a levy for training nursing staff, room and meals, and investment costs for the building and equipment.
Statutory long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) only contributes to the care part. What is left after its flat amount is called the uniform own share (einheitlicher Eigenanteil). In the same home it is the same for care grades 2 to 5, so a resident with higher needs does not pay more; the insurance pays more instead.
| Part of the bill | Average own share, first year |
|---|---|
| Care including training levy, after the 15 percent supplement | EUR 1,775 |
| of which training levy | EUR 128 |
| Room and meals | EUR 1,068 |
| Investment costs | EUR 521 |
| Total | EUR 3,364 |
What statutory care insurance pays
For care in a home, the insurance pays a fixed monthly amount per care grade (Pflegegrad) directly to the home. Care grade 1 only brings a subsidy of EUR 131.
On top of that comes a supplement on your care share that rises with the time you spend in the home. It only applies to care, not to room, meals or investment costs, so the bill falls over the years but never below about EUR 1,600 a month.
| Care grade | Care insurance in a home |
|---|---|
| Care grade 1 | EUR 131 subsidy |
| Care grade 2 | EUR 805 |
| Care grade 3 | EUR 1,319 |
| Care grade 4 | EUR 1,855 |
| Care grade 5 | EUR 2,096 |
What is different if you come from abroad
Coming from the UK, you may expect care costs to be means tested from the start. In Germany everyone with statutory or private health insurance also has care insurance, but it was designed as partial cover. The gap is large and is filled first from your income and savings.
If you plan to move back home or retire elsewhere, note that German care benefits abroad are mostly limited to cash payments within the EU and EEA. A care home in Germany is paid under German rules only.
When pension and savings are not enough
If your own money runs out, the social welfare office (Sozialamt) steps in with care assistance (Hilfe zur Pflege). Before that you have to use your assets down to a protected amount of EUR 10,000. A home your spouse still lives in is usually protected; an empty house of your own usually is not.
Your children only have to contribute if one of them earns more than EUR 100,000 gross a year. Gifts made in the last ten years can be reclaimed by the welfare office.
What private care insurance changes
A private daily care allowance (Pflegetagegeld) closes the gap between your pension and the care home bill, so savings and home are not used up. EUR 50 a day brings about EUR 1,500 a month.
You do not need it if your pension and assets can carry the cost for many years anyway, or if there are no assets that need protecting.
Step by step
- Apply for a care grade with your care insurance fund before moving into a home.
- Compare the fees of several homes; they are published.
- Subtract your pension from the own share to see the monthly gap.
- Check how long your savings would cover that gap.
- Apply for care assistance at the welfare office in time if the money is not enough.
- If you can still plan ahead, size a private daily care allowance to the gap.
Checklist
- Care grade assessed and decision letter at hand
- Care home contract read with all four cost parts
- Own share of your chosen home known, not just the national average
- Income and assets calculated for the next few years
- Housing benefit or care assistance checked
- Care home costs claimed in your tax return as extraordinary expenses
Common mistakes
- Assuming care insurance pays the whole care home bill
- Planning with the average when your preferred home costs much more
- Giving assets away shortly before moving in and facing a claw back
- Applying to the welfare office too late, since it only pays from the date it knows about you
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
What does a care home cost per month in total?
The full bill is on average about EUR 4,500 to 5,800, depending on the care grade. You pay EUR 3,364 of it on average in the first year.
Why do I not pay more in care grade 5 than in care grade 2?
Because the care share in the same home is the same for all grades from 2 to 5. The insurance covers the higher cost with its higher amount.
Do my children have to pay?
Only if a child earns more than EUR 100,000 gross a year. Children in law do not pay.
How much of my assets can I keep?
With care assistance, EUR 10,000 is protected, more for married couples. You also keep a small allowance for personal spending.
Can I deduct care home costs from my taxes?
Yes, as extraordinary expenses above your reasonable burden. Costs for room and meals are reduced by a household saving.
Does private care insurance from my home country help?
Only if its terms pay for care in Germany. Check that before relying on it, and bring the policy to us if you are unsure.
Sources
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