The 2nd HPD report - Health Policy Monitor

Reform of long-term care coverage
Austria: Ten years of LTC coverage
Austria was one of the first European countries to respond to the
challenge of an aging society. In 1993, the Federal Law on Constant
Attendance Allowance (“Bundespflegegeldgesetz,” BPGG)
implemented a separate, tax-funded long-term care insurance
scheme (LTCI). The amount of benefits depends on need, classified
according to seven different categories of care. Over time,
these categories were more clearly delineated, making it possible
to target benefits more closely to needs. All persons who need
long-term care are eligible, regardless of income.
At the time of implementation, all stakeholders welcomed the
law as an important step to timely social policy. Primary objectives
of the law are:
– To grant needs-based access to LTC services
– To enable people to purchase services according to their needs
– To promote independence
– To secure staying at home as long as possible
Between 1995 and 2000, employment in the health and social
care sector grew at a much faster pace than the average growth
over all economic sectors. Nevertheless, the shortage of caregivers
remains a constant concern of institutional providers.
Idea
Pilot
Policy Paper
Legislation
Adoption
Evaluation
Change
Since the law was passed, two evaluations took place. In a representative
sample, the 2002 evaluation revealed that 90 percent of
beneficiaries were very satisfied with the care delivered at home
and another nine percent were satisfied.
Despite the reported satisfaction, other severe problems will
have to be tackled in the near future. Real benefits have decreased,
because cash benefits have not been increased or adjusted to
inflation since 1995. Moreover, a recent report fueled the debate
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Public Visibility
Impact
Transferability
Austrian LTCI—a
model for timely
social policy
Care market:
a job machine
Proven high satisfaction
with
quality of care
Quality, benefits
and funding