Health reform Health is becoming more expensive

Health care reform: On average, health benefits become higher for statutory health insurance. Low and middle earners are on average worse off. We show what will change with the reform.

(12.11.2010) Before the election, Union and FDP had declared that people would soon have more „Net as gross“. Today, however, health care reform has been adopted and most people will have more gross income at the end of the month than net. From 2011, numerous changes will come into effect, which will clearly affect many people in their wallets. We show what will change for the individual.

The contributions of health insurance companies are increasing
With the beginning of the year 2011, the contribution rate of the statutory health insurances increases nationwide from 14.9 to 15.5 percent. Employees, workers and retirees have to pay from the time a health insurance contribution of 8.2 percent of gross income. Employers have to shell out 7.3 percent. After this increase, the employer's health insurance contribution will be frozen. This means that all further contributions have to be paid by the insured person alone. Voluntary statutory health insurance (eg self-employed) must carry the entire 15.5 percent alone.

What specific effects does this have on the individual??
What specific effects does this have on the individual? We calculate: If an employee has a fictitious gross income of 1000 euros, he must pay a health insurance contribution of 82 euros a month from the New Year. That adds up to a total of 36 euros a year. Previously, the contribution was 79 euros per month. If a working person earns 1500 Euros, he has to pay 123 instead of 118.50 Euros per month. With an income of 2000 euros, the monthly 164 instead of 158 euros (72 euros more a year). Anyone earning 3000 euros gross a month has to pay 9 euros / 108 euros more per month. With an income of 4,000 euros, it is then 12 euros / 144 euros per month.

Additional contributions in the future without limitation
The health insurance funds can determine the amount of the additional contributions without limitation at the beginning of the year. This means that each health insurance company determines for itself which flat-rate contribution it raises in addition to the regular insurance premiums. The additional contribution is levied for those affected regardless of the income of the individual. In particular, low-income and medium-income earners are more financially burdened by this innovation than people with higher incomes. However, the Federal Government plans to create so-called social compensation for the marginally employed. Part of this regulation is that those affected receive a tax-financed compensation if the lump sum of the additional contribution is higher than two percentage points of the gross income. It is very likely that this planned social compensation will be reimbursed by the tax office as part of income tax returns. The difference between additional contribution and gross income will be refunded. Hartz IV recipients will be exempt from unemployment benefits, as opposed to one-in-one.

What will be the additional contributions?
Most health insurance companies, which make an additional contribution, require an additional contribution of 8 euros per month. For the individual, this means an increase in premiums of € 96 per year. The additional contribution is not deducted from the payroll but must be transferred separately to the health insurance fund. Here, however, the Federal Ministry of Health is considering the idea of ​​changing the model in the future. It is planned to have the additional contribution deducted from the payroll. In this point, however, the bureaucratic effort is also criticized within the coalition, so that so far no final solution exists.

Health economists assume that most health insurance companies from 2011 will not get around an additional contribution. Also, it is said earlier that the additional contribution will soon not only apply to all funds, but will also be greatly increased. Additional contributions between 20 and 50 euros per month can become reality very soon. We now calculate from when an employee receives a social compensation.

Calculation of social compensation
If a worker earns 1000 euros gross and has to pay a notional additional contribution of 20 euros per month to the health insurance fund, the person concerned does not receive any social compensation. Because the additional contribution does not exceed the two percentage points of income. If a marginally employed person earns 800 euros and has to pay 16 euros extra (2 percent), he / she will not receive any social compensation, because the comparatively lower regular cash contribution (minus four euros) automatically increases the calculated income and thus lowers the entitlement. In summary, this means that with a higher additional contribution a low-income earner is more heavily burdened than someone who has to pay a smaller additional contribution for the same income. Despite social equalization, most people will have a lower income combined, even if they earn little. (Sb)

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