Many people only become aware of the option of receiving domestic help through their health insurance when suddenly nothing works as it used to. A pregnancy with complications. A hospital stay. An operation. A serious mental or physical illness. Or simply the moment when everyday life with children, laundry, shopping, and physical exhaustion can no longer be managed alone.
Then the questions begin: Who will manage the household after the surgery? Or who will clean the apartment after the C-section?
Many people affected are not even aware at this moment that statutory health insurance can actually cover the costs of a household helper in certain situations.
That's precisely why we at Helferei want to make it more transparent when support is available, how household help through health insurance works, and which situations most often lead to you needing to use it. Because people who suddenly need support often have neither the time nor the energy to work through complicated forms and confusing information online.
In principle, statutory health insurance companies can cover the cost of domestic help if an insured person is temporarily unable to manage their own household due to illness. However, this applies to significantly more situations than many people realize.
This issue is particularly relevant after hospital stays, surgeries, or during pregnancy and childbirth. For example, someone who is not allowed to lift heavy objects after outpatient surgery, needs to rest after a cesarean section, or is unable to manage daily life independently due to a serious mental or physical illness, often suddenly faces very practical problems: Who takes the children to school? Who does the shopping? Who cleans the apartment or does the laundry?
Services related to household help and home support exist precisely for such situations, which your doctor can prescribe.
It is important to note that the specific approval after submitting the medical certificate always depends on the individual case and the respective health insurance company. Furthermore, there is often a requirement that no other person living in the household can provide the care.
Many women need support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. However, they are often unaware that this support may be available through their health insurance.
High-risk pregnancies, severe discomfort, or physical limitations after childbirth often make everyday tasks nearly impossible to manage alone. In many cases, rest is even explicitly recommended by doctors. At the same time, there is often enormous pressure during this phase to somehow keep functioning, especially if there are already other children in the household.
In such a situation, a household helper can do more than just help with cleaning. Often, the support also includes shopping, laundry, cooking, or caring for older children during the day. Many families only realize after a birth or a cesarean section how physically demanding even small everyday tasks can be.
Especially important: Special regulations sometimes apply to pregnancy-related complaints. Some health insurance companies even waive the statutory co-payment in these cases. Talk to your health insurance company about your specific situation.
Even after a hospital stay, a situation often arises that many people underestimate. Medically, one may be considered discharged. In practice, however, this does not automatically mean that everyday life immediately returns to normal.
Especially after surgeries or serious illnesses, many people experience temporary physical limitations. This applies not only to physical illnesses, however. Inpatient stays for mental health conditions are also taken into account by doctors and health insurance companies when it comes to providing assistance with household tasks after surgery.
Shopping, cleaning the apartment, or looking after children suddenly become a challenge here, too. At the same time, many people want to recover as quickly as possible and avoid delaying their recovery through overexertion or even worsening the situation.
Therefore, under certain conditions, health insurance companies can also provide support for domestic help after outpatient surgeries, hospital stays, or rehabilitation measures. It is therefore worthwhile to discuss possible support through domestic help with your doctors or your health insurance company early on and, if necessary, to apply for it in a timely manner.
One misconception we encounter particularly often is that many people believe that everyday support in the form of household help via health insurance is only possible for families with small children in the household.
However, there are also situations in which support can be provided without children: for example, after hospital stays, outpatient procedures, or serious illnesses. Some health insurance companies then cover the costs of household support for a limited period, which affected individuals request because they are temporarily unable to manage their daily lives alone.
At the same time, the regulations between health insurance funds sometimes differ significantly. Some funds offer additional benefits or even more family-friendly regulations than legally required.
We from the Helferei We support people in Berlin, Munich, Cologne, and Leipzig in finding suitable help with everyday tasks. Household help and cleaning are among our most frequently booked services. These include, for example, apartment cleaning, regular household help, as well as family support or respite care after illness or pregnancy.
Accordingly, many trained and experienced domestic helpers work through our platform, supporting people in precisely these kinds of everyday situations. Some of our domestic helpers have been supporting families and clients for almost two years through the platform. Helferei .
The Helferei We have our own institutional identification number (IK) . This allows us, in certain cases, to bill health insurance companies for domestic help services or submit them for reimbursement . We have already supported several insured members of Techniker Krankenkasse , AOK Nordost , BMW Betriebskrankenkasse , and mkk .
The important thing is: For health insurance companies, the Helferei Currently , we are not a contracted organization. This means that the final decision regarding cost coverage always rests with your health insurance provider .
In practice, this shows:
It's especially important to us that everyday support shouldn't be complicated or unpleasant. Many people are hesitant to accept help. Particularly in Germany, household help is often still seen as something you "should really be able to manage on your own." Yet, relief in stressful life situations can make an enormous difference – physically, mentally, and within your family. You can conveniently book your household help , cleaner, or housekeeper online via your personal link. Our system handles all the paperwork and invoicing within the framework of your reimbursement agreement with your health insurance provider.
Society is undergoing significant changes. Families often no longer live in close proximity to one another, many parents work full-time simultaneously, and support from relatives or friends is not always readily available. At the same time, the burdens associated with care work, childcare, and organizing daily life are steadily increasing.
That's precisely why domestic help is increasingly becoming an important part of modern healthcare and everyday life support. Because recovery doesn't just mean medical treatment. It often also means having the space to get well again.
Unfortunately, many people only find out very late that they might have been entitled to domestic help through their health insurance or other support in everyday life. Therefore, it is worthwhile to gather information early and speak with your health insurance provider or treating physician.
Because support in everyday life is not a weakness. In many situations, it is simply necessary.
Our team is happy to help – especially with the application to your health insurance company or the individual coordination of your case .
📩 Contact: support@die-helferei.de
🕓 Response times: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Important note : Billing for the so-called relief amount from the long-term care insurance funds (according to § 45b SGB XI) is done via the Helferei This is not currently possible. Should this change in the future, you will be notified first via our newsletter.
