On January 1, 2017, a new test procedure, the so-called New Assessment Assessment (NBA), was introduced. The assessors of the Medical Service of the Health Insurance (MDK) or other testing organizations check every applicant personally for each new application for nursing care by a questionnaire on the degree of their self-employment. On the basis of this opinion of the MDK then decides the responsible care fund, whether care needs with a nursing degree or whether the application for a nursing degree is rejected.

The New Assessment Assessment (NBA) uses a scoring system and uses a questionnaire to check how independent a claimant is. The more points the applicant receives, the higher the level of care and the more nursing and care services are approved by the nursing care fund.

Until the new regulation in 2017, the many elderly people suffering from dementia were largely excluded from long-term care benefits if they were physically healthy for the most part but still needed a lot of care and attention. The long-term care insurance was aimed at the physical care. Only with physical illnesses and correspondingly necessary care aids with body care, nutrition and movement the preconditions for the former care levels 1, 2 or 3 and the associated care services were fulfilled.

The rethinking of the legislature began in 2012. Since then, more and more care services have been standardized for people with dementia and other people with persistently considerably reduced everyday abilities, such as mentally ill or mentally handicapped persons.

From 2017 onwards, the Equal Treatment Act II provided for equal pay for persons suffering from dementia and those with physical disabilities. People with dementia and people who are physically dependent or self-employed receive the same level of care and are entitled to the same benefits provided by the long-term care fund

The reasons for preventive care are very different.

However, caregivers do not necessarily have to give a reason for using preventive care.

The person to be cared for must have been cared for by a private caregiver (relatives, friends) at least 6 months earlier. The beginning of the nursing period is usually equated with the time of approval of the nursing level / degree of care. (If a new case occurs that requires preventive care, the 6-month waiting period will be waived.)

If the person to be cared for is cared for exclusively by a nursing service and not by the relatives, the relatives can not apply for preventive care.

During preventive care, half of the long-term care allowance is granted for up to six weeks.

The 42-day preventive care periods may be taken in full at one time or in sections of days, weeks, or even hours.

People in Grade 1 do not receive preventive care. However, it is possible to finance the preventive care with benefits from the relief amount §45b (125 Euro).

The right to preventive care is a maximum of 6 weeks (42 days). The Nursing Fund will pay up to 1,612 euros per year for preventive care. 50% of short-term care can also be counted (combined) for the preventive care, provided no short-term care has been used for this amount in the current calendar year. Thus, the amount provided for preventive care would increase to € 2,418.

If the preventive care is provided by a relative (including a 2nd degree of relatives) or a person living in the home of the person requiring care, the reimbursement is limited to the amount of the care allowance.

People who are at least 2 years of age have the option of being in full-time care at a nursing home for a short period of time (up to 4 weeks or up to 8 weeks if combined with preventive care) if there is no caregiver at home for this period.

The reasons for admission to full-time temporary care are very different.

During a short-term care, half of the long-term care allowance is granted for up to eight weeks

Persons in care level 1 receive no short-term care. However, it is possible to finance the short-term care with the benefits from the relief amount §45b (125 euros).

For the short-term care, the nursing care costs up to 1,612 euros per year.

Short term care and preventive care can be combined. For the short-term care stay in a nursing home, benefits from short-term care as well as full benefit from preventive care can be added to finance the nursing stay. The costs in the amount of 3224 euros takes over the care fund.

In addition to the entitlement to day care, the full entitlement to the respective outpatient care allowance or care allowance remains.

Nursing expenses including transport costs from the patient's home to the contract organization and back

In semi-stationary care there is the possibility of combined nursing care. Part-time care and benefits in kind (eg day care and an outpatient nursing service) or day care and care allowance (for example day care and care by a relative) can be used in combination. The semi-stationary care (up to the fixed maximum limit) can be claimed without any deduction on the care allowance, the care allowance or the combined benefit.

Example:

The long-term care fund covers the monthly costs for semi-stationary care facilities in kind up to the following maximum amounts

0,00 € (care grade 1), 689,00 € (nursing degree 2), 1298,00 € (nursing wheel 3), 1612,00 € (nursing wheel 4) and 1995,00 € (nursing wheel 5)

Up to € 40, - per month are taken over for care aids intended for consumption. Technical aids can be loaned or reimbursed 100%. For the improvement of the living environment (eg lifting equipment, installation of a disabled bathroom) up to € 4,000 per measure can be granted.