If you have statutory health insurance, you can receive support in the form of household help in certain cases. You can apply for household help from your health insurance fund if, for example, you are
- because of hospital treatment,
- medical care for mothers or fathers, or
- because of medical rehabilitation
you are temporarily unable to continue running your household yourself.
You are entitled to household help if
- a child lives in your household who
- is younger than 12 years of age when the household help begins, or
- is disabled and dependent on help
- there is no other person living in the household who can manage the household.
This entitlement to household help is not limited in time.
In addition, under certain conditions, you may receive temporary household assistance if you are
- are recovering at home from an operation, therapy or serious illness,
- there is no other person living in the household who can manage the household,
- you are not permanently in need of care - in this case, however, the household help can be considered for the care of a child living in the household
The home help will support you for a maximum of 4 weeks. If a child with a disability lives with you who needs help, your entitlement is up to 26 weeks.
Some public health insurance funds also pay for household help in other cases or if you have older children. You can find out more in the statutes of your statutory health insurance fund.
In principle, you must apply for household help from your health insurance fund before you claim it. You will need a doctor's certificate to apply to your health insurance fund. In it, your doctor confirms the need for household help and states to what extent and for how long you expect to need the household help. In addition, the doctor should state from when the need for support arises and which illness-related impairments are present.
If your statutory health insurance agrees to your application, it will arrange for a home help from a nursing service or a comparable organization. If the health insurance company cannot provide household help or if there is a reason not to do so, you can organize the household help yourself and will be reimbursed for the costs at an appropriate level. However, there may be regional differences.
If your parents, siblings or other close relatives help you in the household, your health insurance company cannot pay them. However, it can reimburse travel expenses and, in some cases, loss of earnings. Please contact your statutory health insurance fund for more information.
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