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Contribution increases in January Two-thirds of all statutory health insurance funds increase contributions
Two-thirds of the statutory health insurance companies will raise their contributions via the additional contributions at the beginning of the year. For the insured, a change can be rewarding. But also on the offered services should be respected.
Two-thirds of the statutory health insurance companies will raise their contributions via the additional contributions at the beginning of the year. For the insured, a change can be rewarding. But also on the offered services should be respected.
Most of the funds has increased contributions
Already months ago was reported: The health insurance contributions rise again. For example, some insurers, such as Techniker Krankenkasse, had announced plans to increase contribution rates from 2016 onwards. Now there is more certainty: According to a media report, two-thirds of publicly accessible public health insurance funds have raised their contribution at the turn of the year. This was reported by the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" ("FAZ") on Friday. The sheet relies on the list of contributions published by the Central Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds on New Year's Day. According to this, 59 out of 88 federally or nationwide funds have increased the contribution rate at the beginning of the year. According to the information, the range of contribution rates ranges from 14.6 percent for Metzinger BKK to 16.3 percent for BKK Viactiv. According to the report, 20 health insurances - many of them large ones - require a contribution rate above the average of 15.7 percent.
Contribution increase of the health insurance companies to the turn of the year. Many coffers announced their increase just before the turn of the year. Image: DOC RABE Media - fotolia Save hundreds of euros
Although some insured persons could save hundreds of euros a year by changing their cash register, the chairman of the fund association, Doris Pfeiffer, warned against switching over the cash register solely because of the additional contribution. Compared to the "FAZ" she said: "The competition among the health insurance companies not only includes the amount of the additional contribution, but also, for example, the quality of advice and the nature and extent of additional services." In addition, a local office is important for many people. "Which health insurance is the right one, you should not just attach to the amount of the additional contribution," said Pfeiffer.
Additional financial needs are only borne by employees
Moreover, the number of statutory health insurance companies has continued to shrink in the new year. According to the newspaper report, the total number of statutory health insurance companies now only stands at 118, after five company health insurance funds were taken over by others. Currently, the statutory cash contribution amounts to 14.6 percent of the monthly gross income, of which employer and employee each pay half. However, insured persons have to bear the additional additional requirements of the funds on their own since the proportion of employers has been frozen. The health insurance companies charge an additional contribution, the amount of which you can determine yourself. There are criticisms of this model from various sides, in part also from health insurance companies. For example, the DAK chief recently classified the additional contribution as nonsensical. Among other things, this leads to unreasonable price competition and a gradual "withdrawal of employers from financial responsibility". (Ad)