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More and more people in MV need financial help for care!
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Care costs are rising, more and more people need financial help. Reforms in prospect.
More and more people in MV need financial help for care!
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, financial support for those in need of care reached a new record last year. As the Baltic Sea newspaper reported that 171.8 million euros were spent on social assistance benefits, which corresponds to an increase of 22.4 percent compared to the previous year. What is particularly noteworthy is that more than 115 million euros of this sum went directly to help with care.
More and more people in the region are dependent on financial support to cover the costs of a place in a nursing home. But individual citizens are not held responsible here. Government leaders make it clear that rising costs must be viewed as a challenge for society as a whole. Those in need of care should not be ashamed to ask for help - this is a message that urgently needs to be spread.
Regulations and requirements
The legal framework for this support is clearly regulated in Social Security Code 12 (SGB XII). According to pflege.de Applicants must prove that they are financially unable to cover the necessary care costs themselves. This means that the person is in need of care and the financial resources from other insurance policies are not sufficient. Anyone who does not have an adequate level of care can still apply for assistance with care provided the other requirements are met.
It is important to know that when calculating financial needs, only a portion of the income that is above the income limit is taken into account. This limit is two times the standard requirement level 1 and the appropriate costs for accommodation. Special regulations also apply to minors in need of care.
Perspectives and need for reform
A fundamental reform of nursing care insurance is being planned. This has already been done by the daily news thematised. A working group consisting of representatives from the federal and state governments aims to develop proposals for financial security and reform of long-term care insurance. Federal Health Minister Nina Warken emphasizes that this reform is urgently needed as the number of people in need of care will rise sharply in the coming years - from the current 5.6 million to an expected 7.6 million by 2055.
The rising costs of long-term care insurance are alarming. In 2024, over 63 billion euros are planned for these insurance policies alone, an increase that cannot be covered by insurance funds. Personal contributions for those affected are constantly increasing, with average costs for those in need of care in homes of almost 3,000 euros per month. Solutions must be found and implemented in a timely manner that relieve those affected.
In summary, it can be said that support for those in need of care in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania needs to be more comprehensive. It is crucial that those affected receive the help they are entitled to without feeling unwell. The planned reform could be a step in the right direction, but it remains to be hoped that the necessary changes will be implemented quickly and effectively.