Apply for a Care Level: Guide 2026
What is a Care Level?
A care level (Pflegegrad) is a classification that describes the degree of care dependency of a person. In Germany, there are five care levels, ranging from Care Level 1 (minor impairment) to Care Level 5 (most severe impairment).
How do I apply for a care level?
The application for a care level is submitted to your care insurance fund (Pflegekasse). Here are the key steps:
- Submit application: Contact your care insurance fund and submit an informal application for care benefits.
- MDK assessment: An assessor from the Medical Service visits you at home and evaluates your care needs based on six modules.
- Receive decision: The care insurance fund informs you of the assigned care level.
The six assessment modules
The MDK assessment covers six areas of life:
- Mobility
- Cognitive and communicative abilities
- Behavioral and psychological issues
- Self-care
- Dealing with illness-related demands
- Organizing everyday life
Use our Care Level Calculator
With the free Care Level Calculator from Pflege Orga, you can get an initial estimate of your care level in just 2 minutes. The calculator is based on the official NBA scoring system and is completely anonymous.