Half a million changed the health insurance

Supplementary contributions of the health insurance funds: Around half a million insured persons changed their health insurance in the first half of the year.

(30.07.2010) Since the beginning of the year many health insurance companies charge an additional contribution. Around 500,000 people then changed their health insurance. Above all, the coffers that do not make any additional contributions have benefited. Tendency continues to rise.

The change movements have continued to rise sharply. Due to the introduced additional contributions of the statutory health insurance companies, more and more insured persons are turning their backs on their health insurance. 16 health insurance companies currently levy additional contributions. This comes from information from industry circles, the news agency dpa existed. Here is an overview of the health insurance companies, where most of the insured changed.

By the beginning of July about 241 000 members left the German Employees Health Insurance Fund (DAK). Including the non-contributory co-insured, even around 307,000 people left the DAK. As a spokeswoman for the health insurance points out, the DAK would have lost however 60,000 insured by deaths or change in the non-contributory family insurance. The remainder made use of his special right of termination and changed after collecting additional contributions in another health insurance.

The BKK health, which just a few days ago wanted to merge with the DAK, lost a whopping 20 percent of its members. The BKK also sees the reason for the exodus in the additional contributions. A spokeswoman said: "We can clearly attribute this to the additional contribution, meanwhile the emigration is decreasing". The company health insurance had announced the merger with the DAK in the last week, both funds would not fit together, as it was said.

The KKH alliance also lost 147,000 health insured, of which 116,000 contributors. The KKH alliance also made an interesting observation. For the first time, many retirees and Hartz IV recipients would have left the health insurance. Only some time ago, only better earners and younger people would have left the cash register to insure themselves more cheaply. The reason: Hartz IV recipients, the additional contributions by the employment agencies are not paid. They are asked to change office, so to speak.

The health insurance companies have benefited from the migratory movements, which (still) levy no additional contributions. Above all, the general local health insurance (AOK). Thus all AOK health insurance companies registered a strong increase in members. More than 521,000 insured have been added to the 14 health insurances of the AOK since the beginning of the year. The Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) has also profited greatly, with more than 238,000 people moving into this health insurance fund. In the largest health insurance "Barmer GEK" changed 69,000 insured. No additional contributions to levy, has apparently paid off for the health insurance companies mentioned.

It is unclear, however, whether and when the cash registers also make additional contributions. However, the KKH alliance expressed optimism that it would no longer make additional contributions in the future. However, it is still too early to make forecasts, as a DAK spokesman holds. The policy assumes that the "jumped economy" also has a positive impact on the statutory health insurance. Deputy Union faction leader Johannes Singhammer (CSU) said he expects a "relaxation for statutory health insurance" in the coming year..

However, the situation of especially smaller health insurance companies should remain tight in 2011/2012. Because the differences in the membership structure within the health insurance is just too big, as the health economist Jürgen Wasem confirmed to the dpa. Because from 2011, the health insurance companies can determine the currently capped additional contributions themselves. If insured persons have to pay higher contributions, there will be major changes again. And that's what the coalition wanted, as Federal Foreign Minister and Vice-Chancellor Guido Westerwelle (FDP) confirmed to RTL. Westerwelle calls it "competition under the statutory health insurance".

In order to keep up this race for members, many health insurance companies are planning mergers. The current number of funds is expected to be reduced from 163 to a maximum of 100. Others will have to go bankrupt, because not all funds can find appropriate partners. Three funds had already reported to the Federal Insurance Office an impending bankruptcy.

After the summer break, the Minister of Health Philipp Rösler (FDP) will present a bill to reform the health insurance. The additional contributions limited to one percent of the gross income should then be allowed to rise indefinitely. A so-called social compensation should prevent low income groups from spending too much on their health insurance. But the Ersatzkassen warn of a new social injustice. With increased additional contributions, low-income earners are less burdened. In addition, access to the private health insurance is to be relaxed. This would mean that the health insurances above all lose the high contributions of the better earners, which will further aggravate the situation of the statutory funds.

Criticism also comes from the social organizations: "The collection of income-independent additional contributions represents in fact the introduction of a capitation fee system," criticized the social association "People's Solidarity" in a paper. "The additional contributions will increase the burden on lower and middle income earners, especially retirees, the unemployed, low paid workers, trainees and students, as well as for young families". This leads to a real cut in net income. In addition, Rösler's health care reform would also violate the constitution.

Special right of termination for additional contributions

If health insurances make an additional contribution from their insured persons, members can make use of the changes resulting from their special right of termination. The notice period for a special termination is two months to the end of the month. The additional contribution or the increased additional contribution does not have to be paid by the insured during the period of notice. However, there is a health insurance obligation, which means you have to look for a new health insurance within the notice period. But beware, you should look carefully, which health insurance companies have not already announced an additional contribution, otherwise you have to change again after only a short time. However, merging a cash register, so you can not make use of his special right of termination. (Sb, dd, gr)

Always higher additional contributions?
Health insurance: private or legal?
Rösler's health care reform contradicts the Basic Law