More and more insured refuse additional contributions

Health insurance: More and more insured refuse additional contributions. A possible merger of the two beleaguered health insurance "GBK" and "BKK for health professionals" was "on track".

(18.06.2010) The financial situation of most public health insurances is bad. In addition, the coffers complain about a bad payment behavior of their members when it comes to the additional contributions levied. For the time being, however, defaulting members do not have to reckon with possible debt collection procedures, the effort would be too high compared to the small additional contributions. However, the health services could be shut down, as a spokeswoman of the Federal Association of statutory health insurance announced.

Meanwhile, three health insurance companies have reported a threat of insolvency at the Federal Insurance Office. More and more health insurance companies are collecting so-called additional contributions from their insured persons in order to escape the threat of insolvency. A total of thirteen funds are now collecting additional contributions from their members. Five of these health insurance companies report a mediocre payment morale when it comes to paying the additional contributions. This means that about one in five refuses to pay. The poor payment habits should exacerbate the financial situation of the health insurance companies even further. Overall, the health insurance companies have the right to make an additional contribution of 37.50 euros, most funds require only eight euros per month and member. Many other health insurance companies, however, benefit from the additional contributions of others, because many changed the health insurance.

More and more refuse the additional contributions.
According to a survey by the newspaper "Thüringer Allgemeine", one in five members of the DAK, BKK Gesundheit and BKK für Heilberufe did not pay the additional contribution. At the City BKK, about one quarter of the insured persons did not pay the additional contributions, with the KKH even more than 30 percent of the insured refused. This situation is unsustainable for the health insurances BKK Heilberufe and City BKK, since both health insurance companies have already reported a threat of insolvency. But what happens if insureds do not pay the fee? First of all, not much, as the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) explains. Because debt collection procedures are usually not worthwhile to get the remaining additional contributions from the insured. Because of the small contribution of currently eight euros worth a debt collection procedure. However, the health insurance companies could shut down the benefits. As a GKV spokeswoman said: "If necessary, the health insurances could in return, however, shut down their performance, grant the defaulting member, for example, only a claim to emergency care." What a regular care and what an emergency care is, however, remains open.

Possible merger of insurers threatened by insolvency.
But the health insurance companies are dependent on the additional contributions. "The coffers may only expect their members to pay the additional amount if, despite all austerity measures and restructuring, there is still a funding gap," said the GKV spokeswoman. If the additional income is lost, the health insurance company is in a very difficult financial position. However, many members turned their backs on the health insurance companies because of the additional contributions and switched to another health insurance. Alone 400,000 willing to change since the beginning of the year already exist.

For two out of three insurers threatened by insolvency, there may be a solution. On Thursday, the tops of the company health insurance funds (BKK) met. Compared to the radio station MDR Info confirmed a spokeswoman for a possible merger of the joint health insurance Cologne GBK and BKK health professions. A merger of the funds is well on the way. (Sb)

Also read:
Aid funds: After banks now the health insurance companies?
Health insurance GBK now broke?
Two health insurance companies are broke
Is the health insurance City-BKK broke?

Image: Harry Hautumm / pixelio.de.