Obligation to Long-term Care Insurance
In Germany, trainees are mandatorily insured in the statutory Long-term Care Insurance (Pflegeversicherung) during their dual Vocational Training (Berufsausbildung). The Long-term Care Insurance serves to cover costs for care services in old age or in case of needing care. It is closely linked to Health Insurance (Krankenversicherung) but operates as an independent branch of social insurance.
Contribution Rate and Additional Contribution for Childless Individuals
The standard contribution rate for Long-term Care Insurance is 3.05% of the gross income. Childless trainees who have reached the age of 23 pay an additional surcharge of 0.35%, bringing the total contribution rate to 3.4%. The contributions to Long-term Care Insurance are split equally between the training company and the trainee.
Calculation of Long-term Care Insurance Contributions
The following example calculation shows the deductions for Long-term Care Insurance on a monthly gross compensation of €1,000:
- With Children: 3.05% of €1,000 = €30.50 (of which €15.25 is paid by the trainee)
- Without Children, Aged 23 and Over: 3.4% of €1,000 = €34 (of which €17 is paid by the trainee)
The training company bears half of the total contribution in both cases.
Benefits of Long-term Care Insurance
The statutory Long-term Care Insurance provides benefits for recognized care needs. These include:
- Coverage of costs for outpatient and inpatient care
- Care allowance for caregiving relatives
- In-kind benefits for home care
- Assistance in acquiring aids
- Measures for adapting living spaces
The benefits of Long-term Care Insurance depend on the degree of care needs, which are divided into five care levels.
Exemption from Contribution Obligation
Trainees have no option to exempt themselves from the obligation to participate in Long-term Care Insurance. An exception exists only for those who have private health insurance that also includes mandatory private Long-term Care Insurance. In this case, the obligation to be a member of the statutory Long-term Care Insurance is waived.
Registration for Long-term Care Insurance
The training company registers the trainee with the responsible Long-term Care Insurance provider. Typically, this is the care fund of the chosen statutory health insurance. The contributions are paid together with the contributions to Health Insurance.
Special Regulations for Certain Groups
For trainees who are undergoing school-based education and are not employed under social insurance obligations, the obligation to participate in Long-term Care Insurance usually does not apply. In such cases, they are generally covered through their parents’ family insurance, provided they do not exceed the age limit of 25 years.
Important Information on Long-term Care Insurance
Long-term Care Insurance is an important component of social security in Germany. Trainees should regularly check their pay slips to ensure that the contributions have been correctly calculated. If they have questions about the contributions or the benefits of Long-term Care Insurance, they can contact their health insurance provider.