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Statutory health insurance companies get billion-cash injection from the health fund
After the increases in health insurance contributions in recent years, insured persons in Germany are to be somewhat relieved. The federal government wants to support the health insurance with 1.5 billion euros. For the first time, the reserves of the health fund will be tapped.
Increase in health insurance contributions expected
After the premium increases in January, experts had predicted further increases in health insurance contributions for the coming year. The coffers themselves stated that they were worried about higher spending due to the new integration law of the black and red federal government. In the election year, however, this could be tricky for the governing parties. A huge injection of federal funds may help to ease the situation for the Union parties and the SPD.
The black-red federal government wants to relieve the insured and supports the health insurance with 1.5 billion euros. For the first time, the reserves of the health fund will be tapped. (Image: dessauer / fotolia.com) Cash injection from the health fund
As the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (FAZ) reports, the statutory health insurance will receive next year, an additional injection of funds from the health fund to reduce the increase in contribution rates. A ministry spokesman said that the reserves of the fund should be lowered by a legal regulation by 1.5 billion euros and the money should be made available to the coffers. In the health fund, premium income and tax subsidies flow from the federal budget. The funds receive monthly flat-rate payments.
Insured persons must bear additional needs alone
The statutory cash contribution currently stands at 14.6 percent of the monthly gross income, of which employers and employees each pay half. However, the members have to bear the additional additional needs of the funds on their own because the proportion of employers is frozen. The health insurance companies charge an additional contribution, the amount of which you can determine yourself. This year's average is 1.1 percent. Criticism of this model, there are sometimes even by the health insurance itself. For example, the DAK chief had classified the additional contribution as nonsensical. This leads to a senseless price competition and creeping "withdrawal of employers from financial responsibility".
Increases at the turn of the year
Experts expect further increases at the turn of the year. According to calculations of the GKV-Spitzenverbands, the rate will climb to 2019 up to 1.8 percent. According to the FAZ, the health fund currently has reserves of around ten billion euros. However, in order to allow the funds more money from the reserve, the law must first be changed. According to the ministry, the funds are to be supported with the now planned sum of 1.5 billion euros in terms of the costs for refugees and the expenses for establishing a telematics infrastructure. These include, among others, the applications around the electronic health card.
Avoid rising contributions in the election year
The change is said to come into effect before October so that the so-called circle of valuers can include it in its financial calculations. Then let calculate how high the average additional contribution will be in the next year. The coffers have long been calling for part of the reserves to be used to reduce the contribution burden. The head of the Ersatzkassenverbandes VDEK, Ulrike Elsner, said that the planned amortization of reserves is "a first correct step in order to avoid or cushion a further increase in the additional contribution rates in 2017". However, she called for the Fund's reserves to be lowered beyond the planned € 1.5 billion. As a reserve, 6.5 billion euros and thus 35 percent of a monthly issue are sufficient. Increasing contributions in the election year are tricky for the Federal Government, which is why speculation has long been on financial aid. (Ad)