German nursing home fees surge to record levels

A new analysis by the Association of Substitute Health Insurers (vdek) shows that the average self‑pay amount for a nursing‑home place in Germany reached €3,364 per month in the first year of residence as of 1 July 2026 – an increase of €256 compared with the previous year. Regional differences are stark: Bremen residents pay €3,761, the Saarland €3,695, while Saxony‑Anhalt is the cheapest at €2,891. The rise is driven mainly by higher staff wages, rising investment costs and higher accommodation and catering expenses.

The federal government is preparing a long‑overdue reform of the social long‑term‑care insurance. Health Minister Nina Warken’s draft law proposes to stretch the relief tiers that reduce the care‑related share of the contribution, extending the waiting period for higher relief from 12 to 18 months. The change is intended to save the care funds €2.6 billion in 2027 but would keep out‑of‑pocket costs high for residents. Critics warn that the reform could further burden pensioners, especially in the most expensive states such as Hamburg, where the monthly self‑pay rose by €302 in the past year.