No additional contribution to DAK Gesundheit?

German employees health insurance (DAK) defends itself against the criticism of competitors

01/11/2011

Will there be no additional contribution to the newly merged DAK Health from April 2011? In any case, the DAK chairman of the board Herbert Rebscher and denied media reports, the Federation of the Ersatzkasse would be against the abolition of the additional contribution. Rather, currently competing coffers would try the „harm the good reputation of the DAK“. Because at the latest from the time of the abolition it would not be so easy for the competition, „to attract price-sensitive members“, as it was called in a press release of the DAK.

Federal Insurance Office has not yet given consent
As of January 1, 2011, the German Employees Health Insurance Fund (DAK) merges with the health insurance company BKK Gesundheit. Both funds form a common statutory health insurance with the title from this date „DAK health“. Both health insurance companies currently charge an additional contribution of eight euros per month from their members. By April 2012 at the latest, the newly merged DAK health wants to abolish the additional contribution again. The announcement has sparked numerous criticisms in the cash box industry. The Federal Insurance Office (BVA) as the supreme treasury supervisory authority had also expressed clear concerns. In a letter to the DAK boss Herbert Rebscher, the BVA complained about the publicity announcement of the additional contribution abolition. In the presentation of the future financial concept is the abolition of the additional contribution „rated as a critical point“, as numerous media quote the BVA letter. It is still not finalized whether the BVA gives its consent. Accordingly, it is unclear whether the additional contribution is unnecessary as an additional source of income and whether the allocations from the health fund in perspective sufficient.

The BVA chairman Maximilian Gaßner was particularly snubbed about the fact that the DAK had already publicly announced its intention. The authority had not caused a public correction to a „It may not be possible for them to promote harmful discussions in the media, "as the letter to the DAK from the supervisory authority stated, but the cover letter was published and bosses of other health insurances had gone against the plan.

DAK sticks to the project
In the public debate, the DAK is self-confident and determined to abolish the additional contribution nevertheless. In a statement, the treasurer complains about the attempts of individual competing funds to prevent the abolition of the additional contribution obviously. Several cash management boards had snubbed that the removal of the DAK health „Significant financial burden until the end of 2012“ becomes. In the media was partly mistakenly reported, the financial concern would have expressed the Association of alternative funds. For Rebscher is the approach of the competition „one-time process“ in the history of the DAK. Because no other health insurance company has a real insight into the financial situation of the fund. After all, it's about the competitors, „to weaken the DAK in the competition“. With the deletion of the additional contribution, the DAK Health as „strong competitor in the market“. The attempt of the Ersatzkassenchefs was in the opinion of the DAK chief one „transparent attempt to damage the good reputation of the DAK“. Because „Despite the additional contribution to services and service, the DAK had often achieved first place in the comparison of consumer media. With the removal of the additional contribution, price-sensitive members can no longer be easily hauled off“, said Rebscher. Even legal means should now be used, you should check „legal action against the signatories of the letter“ in the way.

Cash managers are concerned about financial consequences
According to the news magazine „The mirror“ Several cashiers had complained to the BVA that the termination of the additional contribution could drive the newly merged DAK into an imbalance. With such a cash size, the effects of closure would be catastrophic. The DAK holds against it, one expects a net profit by the end of 2011 of about 330 million euros. The financial position is accordingly stable, so that the deletion is a logical consequence.

The merger of DAK and BKK Gesundheit will create the third largest national health insurance fund in Germany. As of 2012, around 6.6 million people will be covered by health insurance at DAK Gesundheit. By the fusion one should „new business model“ be developed in which the benefits of a nationwide acting replacement health insurance are linked with those of a company health insurance. (Sb)

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Image: Claudia Hautumm