19 health insurance companies want to pay premium

09/24/2012

Last week, the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) and the Hanseatische Krankenkasse (HEK) announced that part of the billions of surpluses would be distributed to the insured in the form of premiums. According to a survey of the news magazine „Focus“ at least 19 of the 146 health insurance companies in Germany plan a premium refund.

The Techniker health insurance will refund at the beginning of each year at least 100 euros to each contributor. The exact sum is not yet fixed. Industry insiders believe that it could be even more. Shortly thereafter, the Hanseatic cash register also announced that it intended to pay premiums accordingly. The treasurer of the HEK explained: „In May, all members should get paid 75 euros“.

At least 19 health insurance companies with premium
Because the premiums can be a reason for change, now more and more funds are joining the model. A survey of the magazine „Focus“ revealed that 19 of the 81 funds surveyed plan to introduce such a distribution to members. The amount is depending on the cash position between 50 and 100 euros. Mostly small health insurance companies like the „G + V BKK“ or the "BKK Wirtschaft und Finanzen" want to make reimbursements from 2013 onwards.

The majority of the funds, however, rely more on performance grants. A number of health insurances plan to offer health services such as naturopathy, teeth cleaning and funded prevention programs. Thus, cash patients should benefit from more benefits through the accumulated credit.

Some funds demand from the side of the policy the statutory contribution rate either to lower or to reform. A reform could mean, for example, to make the sentences flexible again. In early 2011, the rate was fixed at 15.5 percent.

The Federal Board of the general local health insurance funds sets itself for own data rather for so-called „structural reforms“ on. Instead of the surpluses for „to burn short-tempered actionism“ "The extra revenue for quality improvements should be used". (Sb)

Read about:
A few health insurance companies want to refund contributions
Bavaria: More money for doctors and clinics
Second health insurance company decides premium
Techniker Krankenkasse pays out premiums
Controversy over high surpluses of the health insurance companies
Health insurance funds should repay contributions

Image: Petra Bork