On Tuesday 21 June 2016, Minister of Social Security, Romain Schneider, presented the main elements of the future dependency insurance reform during the general assembly of the COPAS federation, which brings together support and care services providers.
Established by the Act of 19 June 1998 as the fifth pillar of social security, dependency insurance aims to provide support through benefits to the aid and care provided for a dependent person at home as well as through technical aids and home adaptation. Currently, the care insurance scheme supports over 13,500 people and will be modernised to meet the challenges of a constantly changing population and to ensure equitable access to quality services.
The primary objectives of the reform place the individual at the forefront of the system, offering services in response to the daily needs of each person, enhancing quality through clear standards and criteria, simplifying procesdures and consolidating the system with respect to societal changes and the fundamental principles of the base law of 1998.
Current procedures will be simplified and will aim to allow greater independence, even at an advanced age, for the individual by better taking into account their needs and degree of dependence. The current Assessment and Orientation Unit (CEO) will become the Evalutation and Control and Dependency Insurance Benefits Authority, which will be a separate administration.
To better account for social, technical and organisational develpments, the system will be adaptable daily according to the person's needs and support activities aimed at learning or maintaining motor, cognitive or psychological capabilities will be redefined. Certain activities will be regrouped or reformulated and their treatment will be tailored according to the living space of the beneficiary.
The priority will be on allowing the dependent person to remain at home, to receive the required care and assistance whilst staying close to firneds and family. The caregiver will therefore play a greater role in the future and will be better monitored, whilst continued training will be expanded. Dependency insurance will continue to support contributions to pension insurance for a caregiver not receiving a personal pension.
The control of the quality of assistance and care provided will be improved with a new system, setting standards and quality indicators by Grand Ducal regulation.
"The dependency insurance offers to citizens in need of assistance and care, access to appropriate and high quality services," the Minister commented during his presentation. "The reform of dependency insurance will guarantee long-term access to affordable services required by each."
Transitional measures will be put in place for both beneficiaries and care providers to facilitate the implementation and transition to the new system.
Photo by MSECU (Romain Schneider)
