The health insurance change or stay?

Additional contributions from the statutory health insurances cause more and more insured to change. But when should you actually change the health insurance? The magazine Finanztest has compared around 100 health insurance companies in the area of ​​services.

(18.05.2010) More and more insured change the health insurance due to the additional contributions levied. In the meantime, every sixth GKV insured pays a lump-sum or an income-related additional contribution. Since February, many health insurance companies levy additional contributions to compensate for financial deficits. A total of twelve health insurance companies are now making an additional contribution. More funds could be added very soon. In the first quarter of 2010 alone, some 400,000 insured persons changed their statutory health insurance.

Additional contributions of the health insurance companies.
A raised additional contribution can be expensive. The coffers can beat up to one percent markup. That makes up to 450 euros per year in addition to the general contributions. Currently, the coffers usually charge an additional contribution of a flat rate of eight euros per month. That's still 100 euros extra per year.

If a health insurance company makes an additional contribution, insured persons can usually change health insurance without any problems. This is laid down by contract. But many people are wondering which health insurance they should change. Because services and services of the GKV´s are often not insignificant. In addition, it is not always clear whether the newly elected health insurance company will soon also charge an additional contribution. The consumer magazine "Finanztest" has compared around 100 health insurances and examined their attractiveness.

Find the right health insurance.
Finding the right health insurance is not easy. It is still not clear what the future of health insurance will look like. Currently, the coffers are completely underfunded by law. For this year alone Experts expect a deficit of around 3.1 billion euros. Contributions from members mean that health insurance companies can cover only 95 percent of their expenses. If it is no longer possible to save expenditure, many other health insurance companies will also have to demand additional contributions. In addition, several health insurance companies demand that the contribution rate be increased for all insured persons.

Therefore, insured should rather pay attention to what service and what services the health insurance company offers. Further additional contributions or general premium increases will surely come. Also, the so-called head rate is mainly favored by the FDP and could change the entire system again. A comparison of the health insurance can be found on the portal of Finanztest.

Large health insurance companies usually have a better service.
According to financial test, especially the big health insurance companies offer a good service. These include the health insurances DAK, KKH Allianz and the Novitas BKK. No less attractive are the health insurances Deutsche BKK and Esso BKK. Although these also require additional contributions, the coffers offer, for example, homeopathy and travel vaccinations. In contrast, the GKV Versicherungen BKK für Heilberufe and the Gemeinsamer BKK Köln were badly rated. Although both funds require an additional contribution of one percent of income (up to 37.50 EUR per month), the benefits are no better than other health insurance companies, which do not require additional contributions from their members. (Sb)

Also read:
Health insurance: Hard cuts expected
Consumer advocates against GKV additional contributions
Health insurance with 3.1 billion in the deficit
Image: Andreas Morlok /Pixelio.de.