Care homes in Thuringia: mid-table in the east, rising fast
Thuringia sits mid-table for care home co-payments, but its care part is growing quickly. How the state compares with Saxony and with Hesse to the west.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How we calculate
Monthly co-payment, Thuringia
€3,163
in month 1, supplement 15 %
| Care (EEE) after supplement | €1,738 |
|---|---|
| Board and lodging | €971 |
| Investment costs | €454 |
| Fund pays the home | €1,626 |
| Monthly gap after pension | €1,563 |
| Savings last until the protected amount | 21 months |
| Co-payments over the next 36 months | €101,607 |
| Year 1 (15 %) | €3,163 |
|---|---|
| Year 2 (30 %) | €2,857 |
| Year 3 (50 %) | €2,448 |
| Year 4 (75 %) | €1,936 |
Step-by-step calculation
- vdek average for Thuringia on 1 July 2026: EEE €2,045 (incl. training levy €122), board and lodging €971, investment costs €454.
- Month 1 in the home: supplement 15 % of the EEE = €306.75 (section 43c).
- Co-payment = €1,738.25 + €971 + €454 = €3,163.25.
Estimate using the 2026 amounts in Book XI of the Social Code. Only the decision letter from your Pflegekasse is binding. How we calculate
A care home place in Thuringia cost an average of €3,163 a month out of pocket in the first year on 1 July 2026, rank 10 of 16 states (vdek). The care part, at €2,045 before the supplement, is just below the national figure but has risen by €145 since January, 7.6 % in six months. Board and lodging cost €971 and investment costs €454, both below the national average. With the care fund’s supplement the co-payment falls to €2,857 in year two, €2,448 in year three and €1,936 from year four. Four years in a home add up to about €124,842. Thuringia is almost level with Saxony in year one (€3,152), while compared with Hesse a place saves €268 a month. For families living near the state borders these are noticeable differences.
Thuringia between Saxony and Hesse
| Thuringia | Saxony | Hesse | Germany | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care co-payment (EEE) | €2,045 | €2,136 | €2,233 | €2,088 |
| Board and lodging | €971 | €881 | €1,005 | €1,068 |
| Investment costs | €454 | €455 | €528 | €521 |
| Year 1 | €3,163 | €3,152 | €3,431 | €3,364 |
| From year 4 | €1,936 | €1,870 | €2,091 | €2,111 |
Thuringia shows that a state average is only a guide. Homes in Erfurt or Jena are often above it, rural homes below. What matters, therefore, is the care part of the individual home, which is the largest part of the bill in year one and is stated in the contract.
What the rise means
When the care part rises by €145 in six months, new residents pay 85 percent of it and residents in year four only 25 percent. Since July 2026 the care fund calculates the supplement itself, counting part months in full (section 43c SGB XI). See the care home supplement for how the steps work in practice.