Urgent Assistance Needed: Cry for Help!
In Germany, families who find themselves in a bind due to a temporary illness or accident can seek assistance from their statutory health insurance companies in the form of household help, often referred to as "häusliche Krankenpflege" or "household help."
To qualify, the insured individual must be unable to manage household chores and childcare due to illness or accident, and this incapacity must be certified by a doctor. The family situation also plays a crucial role, as the need for household help is more urgent in households where household duties are shared, such as families with children.
The household help is granted temporarily, usually limited to the period during which the person cannot manage the household responsibilities by themselves. The family must apply to their statutory health insurance provider, submitting proof of the health condition (medical certificate) and information about the current household situation (e.g., presence of children).
Statutory health insurance covers the cost of professional household help or reimburses approved family or informal help, but only if the help is medically necessary and alternatives (like care by the sick family member) are not possible. This service is not typically covered if other adult household members can manage the home or if daily care/hygiene help is available via nursing care insurance.
The entitlement applies even if a longer hospital stay is imminent and daily life at home can no longer be managed. The health insurance company pays for a household help for up to 26 weeks, but patients over 18 years old pay 10% of the cost per day. It is advisable to coordinate the hiring of a household help with the health insurance company to avoid potential additional costs.
In addition to this, social services such as social stations, home and family care, and neighborhood help circles also offer assistance to continue running the household. For more specific rules and application procedures, families should contact their statutory health insurance provider directly as policies and documentation requirements can vary slightly between Krankenkassen.
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