Dependency Insurance simplifies Administration Procedures and improves definitions of Caregivers

The reform of dependency insurance in Luxembourg, which entered into force on 1 January 2018, introduced improvements such as simplified administrative procedures.

The reform provides beneficiaries of long-term care insurance greater flexibility in the provision of care accompanied by a qualitative increase on several levels. This improvement has been made possible by the introduction of tiered billing to better tailor the delivery of benefits to the day-to-day needs of long-term care beneficiaries. Other improvements that have been introduced include the increase in the number of hours for domestic chores, increased from 2.5 hours to 3 hours per week, an increase in quality coefficients, a simplification of administrative procedures and a better definition of the informal caregiver accompanied by increased carer support (eg regular training).

The implementation of the reform is the result of close collaboration between the Caisse nationale de santé (CNS), the Administration of Assessment and Control of Dependency Insurance (AEC) and the different care providers.

In order to have the best benefits possible centered on the needs of each person benefiting from dependency insurance, the Minister of Social Security, Romain Schneider, set up a high-level follow-up with all the stakeholders. Following this work, on 12 June 2018, the Minister of Social Security tabled various proposals to ensure a better match between the implementation of the reform and its fundamental objectives. Following the open and constructive exchanges, Romain Schneider submitted these proposals to the Governing Cabinet which validated them at its meeting of 15 June 2018.

These amendments will now be introduced in the legislative procedure. Specifically, they will introduce at the legislative level the possibility of converting an individual caregiver into a group of caregivers and up to half of the annual average, that is to say that on average 3 ½ hours, of individual care per week can be converted into 14 hours weekly group care and an average of 20 hours of group care per week can be converted into 5 hours of individual care per week. They also include the possibility for the beneficiary of dependency insurance entitled to a caregiver to make trips outside their home with a guide, within the limit of 4 hours per week, as well as the possibility of increasing the maximum duration of group care from 40 to 56 hours per week when there is a need for the dependent person for specific and personalised supervision requiring sustained supervision. Similarly, the 4-hour-a-week plan for accompanying activities of the dependent person in a permanent residence facility (PPA) may be extended to 10 hours per week when there is a need for the dependent person for a specific and personalised supervision.

The Ministry of Social Security, the CNS and the AEC will inform all beneficiaries of these additional improvements at an appropriate date.