BKK für Heilberufe is finally closed

The BKK für Heilberufe will be closed by the end of the year

03/11/2011

After no adequate fusion partner made available, the statutory company health insurance BKK for health professionals overtakes the same fate of the already closed City BKK. The BKK Heilberufe is expected to close its doors by the end of the year. More than 100,000 insured and numerous employees now have to look for a new health insurance.

Million deficit caused closure
Already the second statutory health insurance fund has to be closed this year because the allocations from the health fund are no longer sufficient to guarantee liquidity to physicians, drug manufacturers and hospitals. By the end of the year, the BKK should be closed to health professionals to prevent a looming bankruptcy. This was announced by the Federal Insurance Office (BVA) and spoke in this context of „Failed remedial measures“ and a million deficit. A decision of the Federal Insurance Office after § 153 SGB V i. V. m. § 46 para. 5 SGB XI was already delivered to the fund on 2 November 2011. It says that; ”The BKK für Heilberufe and the BKK für Heilberufe-Pflegekasse will be closed on 01 January 2012 (with effect from 31 December 2011).” This year's estimated budget deficit is around € 26.5 million.

Negotiated merger talks and missing concepts
Until the end of the cash management board had tried to merge with other health insurance, but the targeted interlocutors rejected after seeing the financial situation again and again. The BVA had promised the BKK für Heilberufe the continuation only if a fusion partner was found. After all plans failed in this direction, experts saw the cash out already months before as sealed. None of the health insurances in the group of the company funds agreed to provide such high financial aid. By the end of the year, however, it will be possible to settle the claims of health care providers. These will be financed from the remaining funds, therefore the health services of the insured will be paid until the end of 2011.

Since 2010, the BKK für Heilberufe has demanded an additional contribution of one percent of the gross income from its insured persons. Thereupon the cash register had to accept harsh member churn. According to the health insurance fund, around 113,000 people are still covered by health insurance at the BKK. Just as many members left the box office last year because they did not want to pay for the excessive costs. Above all, the elderly and the chronically ill remained.

Those affected must now look for a new health insurance. In this context, the Federal Minister of Health Daniel Bahr (FDP) appealed to other health insurance funds should „Do not be led to refuse new member requests“. In the course of the City BKK dissolution, there were on some cash the attempt to elicit chronically ill or elderly people already on the phone. As a precautionary measure, Bahr therefore pointed out that in the wake of the new supply law created in 2012, the conditions for admission will be tightened. Health insurance companies are already obliged by law to accept any claimant from other health insurance funds regardless of their income, age or prior illnesses. If a health insurance company covers an insured person, that could cost up to 50,000 euros. The latter regulation, however, only comes into force from 2012.

Change should be unbureaucratic and easy
The BVA chairman Maximilian Gaßner reminded the Kassenverbände and board of directors, they are to ensure that the change of the insured "problem-free and unbureaucratic.“ As the supreme supervisory authority, one will closely observe the behavior of the health insurance companies. At the same time, the BVA chief threatened sanctions in case of obvious difficulties. "If there are again health insurance companies trying to abolish the insured, the BVA will proceed with all the means at its disposal," announced Gaßner.

Members will be informed this week
Starting Wednesday, the BKK will send circulars for health professionals to draw the attention of the insured to the closure. The cover letters contain informational materials in which, for example, all freely selectable health insurance funds are listed in Germany. The BVA boss advises all concerned members carefully to look at the question health insurance companies and to look best before the closing date, a new health insurance. On the part of the Federal association of the legal health insurance (GKV) one said, one „Be convinced that the mistakes will not be repeated a second time during the City BKK closure“. The AOK and the DAK have already announced that they will easily accept all former BKK for health professionals members. The next few days will show whether lip service is followed by action. (Sb)

BKK für Heilberufe: AOK announces talks
Closure of the BKK for health professionals unavoidable
Fusion between AOK and BKK for health professionals?
Imminent closure of the BKK for health professionals
BKK für Heilberufe: merger or insolvency?
BKK for health professions threatens bankruptcy
Member loss at the health insurance companies
What now insured must consider

Picture: Kreuznacher Zeitung