Pay attention to health insurance on further benefits

With choice of the health insurance offers should be examined exactly

15/10/2013

Who wants to change his health insurance, should look carefully at the offers of the funds, because these differ in terms of benefits in some cases considerably. Many health insurances also offer extras to their members, so insured persons should thoroughly check whether the offer best suits their needs. This affects, for example, preventive examinations, which take over some funds much earlier than others.

Health insurance companies have been able to offer extra services since the beginning of 2012
Whether homeopathy or a domestic help - since the beginning of 2012, the statutory health insurance companies are entitled to their members in addition to the statutory uniformly regulated compulsory benefits so-called „Additional services“ offer. Each health fund can decide for itself which voluntary benefits are granted. Accordingly, the consumer center North Rhine-Westphalia in Dusseldorf recommends to look closely, if insured want to change their existing insurance coverage. In doing so, one's own interests should be weighed exactly and subsequently the services of the various funds should be examined. For example, it is particularly suitable for working people „a health insurance company, which advises on medical questions by telephone or online around the clock. It may be important for older people that their health insurance employees come to the house to answer questions“, so the tip of the consumer center.

Screening examinations partly already for under-20s
Also in the early detection examinations should be looked closely. Because while the skin cancer screening is usually paid only from the age of 35 every two years, some funds would take this performance already for 19- or 20-year-olds, in some cases even younger. In addition, according to the consumer center North Rhine-Westphalia of some funds also the cost of an investigation with the so-called „reflected light microscope“ (Dermatoscopy) paid.

Grants also for alternative treatments
Who examines the offers exactly gets, also in the field of dental health financial support, because the professional teeth cleaning (PZR) in the form of prophylaxis is now often subsidized. Also, alternative treatment methods are not neglected in many funds, for example, osteopathic treatments often already belong to the standard range. Who is affected by this, but should also look closely, because „the number of meetings and the amount of reimbursements vary from cash to cash: up to 390 euros per year are granted. The rest has to be paid out of pocket“, so the hint of the consumer center. (No)

Picture: Peter Franz