Minister of Health denies high additional contributions

The Bundesgesundheitsminsier does not expect a massive increase in the additional contributions to the health insurance companies. The DGB sees a destruction course of the cash registers because of the lump sums. City BKK insured persons may not be turned away.

17/05/2011

The Federal Ministry of Health Daniel Bahr (FDP) warned the health insurance in an interview with the newspaper „image“ to deny access to members of the bankrupt city BKK. In addition, the minister doubted a future additional contribution of 70 euros. The German Trade Union Confederation, meanwhile, sees a "destructive cash competition", which is triggered by the additional contributions.

Health insurance companies may not reject membership applications
The new Health Minister Daniel Bahr reminded the coffers, if they refuse admission of former City BKK members. The health insurances would have a legal obligation to accept each compulsory insured person. If a fund does not take this duty seriously, it makes itself punishable. Therefore, the Minister doubted that health insurance would actually follow a strict rejection. "No coffers will allow themselves to publicly make headlines as a blockbuster fund, but we will evaluate these experiences in peace, consequences can not be excluded."

The Minister of Health concluded in the interview that the additional contributions in the coming years will rise to 70 euros a month. The Federal Chairman of the Statutory Health Insurance (GKV), Dr. med. Pfeiffer, had not ruled out such an increase in contributions in the form of additional contributions for the future. Minister Bahr sees things differently. "In the foreseeable future, such an increase is not to be expected." Next year, the average additional premium collected across all funds will at best be in the low single-digit euro range. " If you can not afford the additional contribution, you also get a social compensation, according to Bahr.

DGB demands immediate consequences due to the experiences
DGB Vice-President Annelie Buntenbach sees the closure of City BKK as one „destructive ticket competition triggered by the introduction of the capitation fee“ Has. The elimination of insured by the other health insurance companies was a scandal.“ It is an unbearable scandal that insured the City BKK be deviated from other health insurance. The Federal Insurance Office and, last but not least, the Federal Ministry of Health must ensure that the insured persons are free to vote.“ DGB board member Buntenbach called for swift action by the federal government. “It must not be accepted with approval that the statutory health insurance altogether gets into disrepute.“

As a further consequence, the DGB calls on the Federal Government to improve the risk structure compensation so that the different framework conditions and burdens of the health insurance funds are actually compensated. Finally, the private health insurance companies have to be involved in this compensation.

Additional contribution is a capitation
„The closure of the City BKK is reason enough to end the destructive ticket competition triggered by the introduction of the capitation fee. The head lump sum has to be stopped and the competition finally started with the service providers to improve the quality of health care and ultimately to save unnecessary costs. But if health insurance companies only compete for the avoidance of the capitation, a nationwide cash register dying is already foreseeable.“ (Sb)

Also read:
Health insurance: Soon 70 euros for additional contributions?

Image: Andreas Morlok /Pixelio.de