A care level decides which benefits of the long-term care insurance are available to you. The application is therefore the first step when help becomes necessary in daily life, and it often affects the whole family. Knowing how the procedure works, which deadlines apply and what happens if the care insurer takes too long helps you plan better.
Short answer: You apply for a care level with your care insurer. The statutory processing period for the assessment is 25 working days from receipt of the application. For shorter special deadlines, for example after a hospital stay, it is 5 or 10 working days. If the care insurer misses the deadline, it pays 70 euros for each started week (Federal Ministry of Health, status 6 January 2026). Last updated: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- The application goes to the care insurer attached to your health insurance.
- The standard deadline for the assessment is 25 working days from receipt of the application.
- In hospital, rehabilitation and hospice cases a shorter deadline of 5 working days applies.
- If the deadline is missed, the care insurer pays 70 euros for every started week, the first payment due no later than 15 working days after the deadline.
- No payment is due if the care insurer is not responsible for the delay.
How does the application work?
The procedure has several steps. The stages are the same for every applicant but the pace differs, depending on whether a clinic, a hospice or a period of care leave is involved.
- Submit the application: you send the application to your care insurer. The insurer confirms receipt, and the deadlines start from that day.
- Assessment: an assessor examines how independently the person in need of care manages daily life. The assessment usually takes place at home or in the clinic.
- Decision: the care insurer informs you of the care level. If the application is refused or the level is lower than expected, you can take action against the decision.
- Claim benefits: with the care level you can choose the suitable benefits, such as care allowance, benefits in kind or replacement care.
The care insurer tells you which documents it needs in your case. Recent medical reports, an overview of medication and a short care diary kept over a few weeks are generally helpful.
Which deadlines apply to the assessment?
The deadlines differ by situation. The overview below sets out the standard cases side by side, as the Federal Ministry of Health describes them.
| Situation | Deadline for the assessment |
|---|---|
| Standard case | 25 working days from receipt of the application |
| Hospital or inpatient rehabilitation, where further care must be secured | 5 working days |
| Hospice or outpatient palliative care | 5 working days |
| Home setting with announced care leave or an agreed family care period | 10 working days |
| Short-term care after hospital or rehabilitation (final assessment) | Within 10 working days of the start of short-term care |
The information comes from the Federal Ministry of Health page with status 6 January 2026. In an individual case, the care insurer decides which deadline applies. A short enquiry with the care insurer avoids misunderstandings.
What happens if the care insurer takes too long?
If the deadline is exceeded, you are entitled to a monetary payment. The Federal Ministry of Health names 70 euros for each started week of the delay. The first payment is due no later than 15 working days after the deadline expires, and further payments of 70 euros accrue for each started week.
Assumption: the deadline is exceeded by two and a half weeks. Then three weeks have started, and the entitlement is 3 times 70 euros, which makes 210 euros. Whether an entitlement exists in the individual case is for the care insurer to check.
No payment is due if the care insurer is not responsible for the delay. The same applies where the person already lives in inpatient care and has at least care level 2. If you suspect a delay, document the date on which you applied.
What does the assessment examine?
The assessment evaluates how independently a person manages daily life. What counts is how well the person can cope with everyday tasks without outside help, not the diagnosis alone. The statutory rules set out the details of the evaluation.
It helps to describe everyday life concretely: where does the person need support, how often in the day, and how reliable is that help? A diary over several weeks makes such information traceable.
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit the application myself?
Yes. The application can be made by the person in need of care, by relatives or by an authorised person. With a power of attorney, the power of attorney should be lodged with the care insurer.
Will a clear diagnosis guarantee a care level?
A diagnosis alone does not decide the care level. The extent of support needed in daily life is decisive. A precise description is therefore more important than the diagnosis itself.
What if the care insurer misses the deadline?
You can remind the care insurer of the deadline and ask for the monetary payment. The care insurer checks whether it is responsible for the delay. In a dispute, a consultation with the care advice service or a consumer advice centre is sensible.
Does the deadline also apply after a hospital stay?
After a hospital or rehabilitation stay, a shorter deadline of 5 working days applies where further care must be secured. The care insurer decides the individual case as soon as the application is received.
How does the care level relate to the benefits?
The care level determines which benefits are available and in what amount. An overview by care level is in our guide on care levels and benefits.
What to do now
- Submit the application early and note the date of receipt.
- Keep a care diary over a few weeks that shows the actual need for help.
- Have medical reports and a current medication list ready.
- After the decision, check whether the care level matches the help actually needed, and then decide on further steps.
Related reading
- Care reform 2027: what is settled and what is still in process
- Care levels 1 to 5: which benefits belong to which level
- Respite care and short-term care: the combined amount
- Care relief allowance: what it can be used for until 2026
- Parental maintenance and nursing home: what children actually pay
Sources:
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
