Chronically ill

introduction

Chronic illnesses are the most frequently diagnosed illnesses in industrialized countries. In Germany apply overall approximately 20% of the population as chronically ill. Not only adults but also children are relatively often affected by chronic diseases. Chronic diseases make up a large proportion of the diagnoses made and are therefore one Health system challenge. The term chronic diseases is defined as follows:

Chronically ill people are those who have had the same disease for at least one year and are treated by a doctor at least once a quarter. The data subject must also have at least one of the following defined characteristics:

• Care level 2 or 3
• Degree of disability by at least 60% or a degree of employment by at least 60%
• Continuous medical care (medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, drug therapy, treatment care, supply of remedies and aids) without which, according to the medical assessment, a life-threatening aggravation, a reduction in life expectancy or a permanent impairment of the quality of life due to the underlying serious chronic illness is to be expected (G -BA).

According to this definition, a number of different diseases can lead to one becoming chronically ill. The Duration A chronic disease can vary individually depending on the disease and the course of the disease vary. For example, some diseases can be cured by medical treatment, while others remain chronically ill for the rest of their lives.

In many cases, chronic diseases are diseases that slowly change the body and can therefore only be treated over a long period of time.

Usually one or more organ systems are affected in a chronic illness. However, accidents and injuries can also lead to chronic illness.The therapy is always based on the disease and can be treated in hospital or on an outpatient basis, depending on the disease.

In addition to personal effects, the presence of a chronic illness also has consequences for the maximum amount of additional payments to be made to the health insurance company. The amount of co-payments for medical measures and medication is reduced in the presence of a chronic illness.

Causes of Chronic Diseases

The causes that lead to becoming chronically ill are diverse. In very many cases it is a question of diseases that change the body over a long period of time and are relatively advanced when the diagnosis is made. Due to the advanced disease, the required duration of therapy is also extended. If there is a physical limitation due to the disease, the person concerned may be classified as chronically ill.

There are some diseases that lead to chronic illnesses particularly often. So are especially people with cardiovascular diseases how high blood pressure and the coronary heart desease as well as with diseases of the lungs (bronchial asthma, COPD) often chronically ill.

The skeletal and muscular systems are also common sites of chronic diseases. The high number of people with long-lasting Back pain Seeing a doctor is an expression of this widespread problem.

Also all fall Cancers as well as the Diabetes mellitus under the concept of chronic diseases. Mental illnesses are also common as a trigger for the presence of a chronic illness. This includes both Addiction disease how alcoholism as well as depression and other mental illnesses.

Co-payment

The statutory health insurance companies bear the costs for medical measures and certain medications for the treatment of chronically ill people. The co-payment, which is always required from the insured person, is also to be paid by the chronically ill. The maximum amount of this Co-payments is however in the presence of a chronic illness decreased.

In the event of a chronic illness, there are consequences for the health insurance companies and the billing of medical measures. The consequences apply to the entire family, even if only one family member is chronically ill. The so-called load limit, which is normally 2%, is reduced to one percent of the family's gross income. This means that the maximum amount of individual co-payments, which result from medical measures and medication and is required by the health insurance companies, is reduced for chronically ill people.

Claims of the chronically ill

The presence of a mental illness naturally has mostly unpleasant aspects. In addition to many visits to the doctor and the symptoms that are associated with the individual disease, side effects of the medical therapy as well as the disease itself can cause discomfort.

Nevertheless, the chronically ill can make use of some special services. In the presence of a chronic illness, the maximum amount of co-payments for medical measures and medication is reduced. Instead of 2% of the gross family income, the limit of stress for the chronically ill is reduced to 1% of the gross family income. Chronically ill people are also included in so-called disease management programs of the health insurances and should therefore experience closer and more precise control by the treating doctors.

Chronically ill and Hartz 4

Hartz 4 is unemployment benefit II, which is a basic security benefit. Every employable beneficiary is entitled to this benefit from the German state.

The treatment of chronically ill people who receive Hartz 4 does not differ from other people. People who receive Hartz 4 are obliged to take out health insurance. A subsidy for the insurance contributions can be granted on application. In the presence of a chronic illness, the maximum amount of co-payments for medical measures and medication is also reduced for people who receive Hartz 4. This is reduced to 1% of the services received.