Hartz IV debts by health insurance

Hartz IV: Debt through health insurance

03/03/2011

Hartz IV recipients must pay additional contributions from the statutory health insurance and private insured aid recipients must fight with debt mountains. This is due to an inadequate legal situation and numerous gaps in the system. The black and yellow government, however, makes little effort to change this intolerable situation.

Actually the legal situation is clear, who relies on the unemployment benefit II, does not have to pay for the costs of the health insurance itself. The job centers are obliged to take over the health insurance contributions in full. Especially for the cashes offer a reduced contribution rate. However, numerous loopholes in the law and inadequate regulations enable those affected to still have to pay contributions for health protection from the regular benefits. So far, the Federal Government sees no need for action and continues to throw ambiguities on the social courts.

Privately insured Hartz IV recipients with high debt mountains
Just such a verdict, the Federal Social Court said on 18 January this year. Here, the top guardians of social legislation made it clear that privately insured Hartz IV recipients have a full right to take on an appropriate base rate. Until this judgment, those affected had to settle the shortfall in coverage from the regular benefits. An almost impossible feat of strength that they had to overcome because the ALG II rule set is hardly enough to cover the daily need for clothing, nutrition and cultural participation. The result: Most Hartz IV recipients with private health insurance were in debt.

Although the mountains of debt were caused by the insufficient legal situation, the job centers refuse retroactively to reimburse the PKV contributions. For the lawyer Markus Klinder the case is clear: Here the Federal Employment Agency disregards the pronounced judgment of the Federal Social Court. Apparently on instructions from the Federal Government. From a response of the Federal Government to a „Small request“ The parliamentary group of the left shows that the contributions must be refunded in full only retroactively until the decision has been made. By that time, however, those affected have accumulated thousands of euros in debt. Still one keeps open whether the contribution arrears are refunded in full Higher. Thus, in the present answer: "Whether and to what extent the verdict of the Federal Social Court has an impact on the accrued premium debts, can only be evaluated when the written opinion is given". The private health insurers also demand a settlement of the accumulated debts. The PKV Verband let announce that one would not do without the pending contributions. Either way, one insists on the settlement of the missing contributions. Now those concerned worry if the politicians act or let them down again. Health economists believe that these are likely to be sums of four digits that have accumulated over the past two years among those affected.

The situation turns out to be particularly serious if those concerned return from the Hartz IV relationship. "Then the problem becomes acute," said Anke Plener, specialist lawyer for social law in Berlin opposite the „Daily newspaper TAZ“. "If a person in need succeeds in this, but he does not pay the arrears of insurance contributions in the private health insurance, his insurance cover drops to an emergency supply." Because the health protection applies according to a special clause only with Hartz IV. As soon as this has overcome the unemployment and the deferred contributions can not pay, the basic protection changed into an emergency care without health services.

Additional contributions despite social compensation
Particularly annoying experience the current situation and statutory health insurance in the ALG II reference. Actually, according to the adopted health care reform for low-income earners, a social compensation should be made if the health insurance company makes an additional contribution. But the opposite is the case. Because currently only a minority of the health insurance funds levies an additional contribution, the current average additional contribution is zero euros, although 13 of the 160 health insurance companies charge an additional share of their insureds. Now, if the health insurance company changes their statutes, unemployed people must pay the average additional contribution of eight euros. The problem is greater than the federal government admits, because even large funds such as the DAK make additional contributions. Since the DAK already since spring 2010 demands an additional contribution, those concerned can not make use of a special right of termination. This right exists only if the health fund directly raises an additional contribution, or increases the existing one. Since the job centers refuse to cover the costs and point out the right of termination, Hartz 4 recipients must pay the additional contribution from the regular benefits. And eight euros means for Hartz IV about 2 days to get along without food. (Sb)

Read on this topic:
Exemption of additional contributions from Hartz IV
Consequences of deleting the additional demand in Hartz IV

Picture: Dr. Klaus-Uwe Gerhardt