HUK Coburg presents favorable PKV Select tariff

The private health insurance HUK Coburg presents new and favorable "Select tariff". However, the tariff can only be used if the insured lives in a larger city.

The private health insurance HUK Coburg has presented a new tariff model. The Select rate allows insured persons to save costs if they seek health services from a HUK-Coburg cooperation partner.

The private health insurers must increase their contributions significantly from next year. The private health insurance (PKV) HUK-Coburg presented a new cost-saving alternative. Who chooses the new Select rate of the provider, can be reimbursed significantly higher treatment costs. In return, special therapies and treatments have to be obtained from one of the numerous cooperation partners. Among the partners are u.a. Specialist clinics, dental laboratories, drug manufacturers and ophthalmologists. For outpatient medical treatment, PKV insured persons can turn to medical care centers. These medical care centers (MVZ) are specialists, alternative practitioners and other health care providers.

The special feature of the new tariff model is that the scope of services can be extended without a direct influence on the amounts. For this purpose, the health insurance must hand over their health management to the PKV provider HUK-Coburg. The insurer then takes care of everything else. This means that the insured person will take over the work and that HUK-Coburg will choose the clinics, alternative practitioners or doctors.

Fixed terms negotiated with the contractors
The insurer negotiated separate fee services with the cooperation partners. All cost savings are passed on directly by the insurer to the policyholder. This has the effect that the members of the tariff receive a higher reimbursement than has been the case so far. For example, patients benefit from being able to save up to 20 percent on medicines and remedies. Conversely, this means that drugs are fully reimbursed by contractors. A full reimbursement will be paid to insured persons in the Select tariff if they use the services of a specialist without a referral.

Dentures and eye lasers will be cheaper
Expensive dentures and dental treatments as well as eye laser treatments are also significantly cheaper, according to the insurance provider. Again, the extra negotiated compensation with the cooperation partners. However, here too, these benefits only apply if the health service has been used by one of the contracting parties.

Supply of analgesic forms of therapy
The insurance provider works together for the outpatient care of the insured with the Pain Center Berlin, the Berlin MZV Polikum and the Hamburg MVZ Medicum. In the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, contract partners for inpatient psychosomatic therapy are available to the insured as a medical contact.

Where is the tariff model offered??
Currently the tariff model is still in its infancy. So far, the HUK-Coburg has been able to enter into a few cooperations. For example, currently only private health insurance in the major cities of Germany can take advantage of the Select tariff. Furthermore, everyone should ask in advance the question of whether such a tariff choice makes sense. Finally, the free choice of treatment facilities is significantly limited. On the other hand, this innovative model can reduce the rise in private health insurance costs. Before such a tariff is used, consumers should obtain detailed information from an independent advice center. Advantages and disadvantages should be carefully considered. (sb, 19.11.2010)

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Thousands change to private health insurance
Change to private health insurance from 2011

Picture credits: Margot Kessler