Fusion between AOK and BKK for health professionals?

The AOK Rheinland / Hamburg wants to start with the BKK for health professionals first merger talks

14/10/2011

As reported, the health insurance company BKK für Heilberufe, which has been in financial difficulties, is about to go bankrupt. After several attempts failed to find a suitable fusion partner, now signaled the General local health insurance AOK Rheinland / Hamburg interest in an association. The fund confirmed that it would hold talks on a possible merger in the next few days. The basic condition is that the BKK Heilberufe discloses all structural deficits in the discussions.

The AOK Hamburg / Rheinland signaled a readiness for possible Fuisonsgesprächen. Advantage would be the common location in Dusseldorf, thus resulting in a regional reference, as a speaker of the AOK explained. However, the chances for a merger are still very low.

An insolvency of the BKK for health professions must be decided by the Federal Insurance Office. Due to the persistent liquidity problems of the cash register only the closure would remain if no cash counterparty is found. By the second of November this year, the Federal Insurance Office wants to decide as the highest instance on the closure of the BKK for health professionals. If the fund closed its doors, around 120,000 cash patients would have to seek a new health insurance. Even the remaining 150 employees would lose their jobs. Already 90 coworkers had to terminate the health insurance in the past due to the financial difficulties due to operational reasons.

On Monday it had become known that all previous rescue plans failed. The BKK on site had canceled a merger. A spokesman said that „structural deficit“ the finances at the BKK for health professions go beyond the previously announced amounts. The board level of the AOK Rheinland / Hamburg therefore wants to be informed in cooperation talks in detail about the actual financial position of the BKK for health professionals. If there is no merger, the cash register is ready to accept all members who want a change. Experts, however, fear that similar to the closed City BKK especially older and chronically ill will have difficulty finding a new health insurance. However, according to legislation, all statutory health insurance funds are obliged to take insured persons regardless of status, income or state of health. In the case of the City BKK some health insurance companies had tried to wave off interested ones already on the telephone. Only after the Federal Ministry of Health came in and threatened punishments could all the former members be accommodated. (Sb)

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Imminent closure of the BKK for health professionals
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Image: Claudia Hautumm