Health insurance Soon 70 euros for additional contributions?

Health insurance association chairman expects additional contributions in the amount of 70 €

16/05/2011

Social organizations and trade unions have been warning for some time: the additional contributions from the statutory health insurance funds could soon rise many times over. In the opinion of the association association chairman Doris Pfeiffer will increase the additional contribution soon to 50 to 70 euros per month. Health economists even talk about 100 euros.

Additional contributions from the statutory health insurance funds are still a single phenomenon. Those who have to raise one, usually require a lump sum of eight euros per month. Just 16 of just 158 ​​health insurance companies are present. Many legally insured persons are still reacting with a willingness to change, and are wandering when collecting an additional contribution. But soon it will no longer be a question of whether an additional contribution, but in what amount this is charged. The approximately 71 million statutory health insurance must adjust in the next two to three years on an additional contribution of 50 to 70 euros. Such a high additional contribution is very likely to come, is the chairman of the Central Association of Statutory Health Insurance GKV. Doris Pfeiffer opposite the „Germany radio culture“ in Berlin. The culprit is the policy and the rising costs of healthcare.

Ceiling of additional contributions has been lifted
The black-yellow coalition had lifted in the course of the health care reform, the cap on the additional contributions. Since the beginning of 2011, the health insurances can independently decide on the amount. The Federal Government wants to achieve a decoupling of employer shares with the indirect control. Cost increases in the health system should be regulated by the so-called head rate. The equal funding is thus virtually superseded.

The costs for doctors, clinics and pharmaceuticals would have to be paid by the insured persons via the additional contributions. "Therefore, such a magnitude is conceivable and also wanted by the policy," said the head of the association to the radio station. The surcharge must be paid by cash patients from now on alone. He comes namely to the regular contributions of the contribution rate of 15.5 percent again on top of it. And every month.

The acceptance of the treasurer was recently confirmed by the University of Cologne. Their Institute for Health Economics had calculated a future additional contribution of nationwide 100 euros per month for the next seven years. When the results were announced, the figures were denied by the Federal Ministry of Health. Although the additional contributions would rise, but one does not assume such populations.

Insured persons may not be rejected
Most coffers currently do not charge any additional fees because, as in the case of City BKK, they are scared that many people, especially healthy and young members of the fund, are turning their backs. If many young people change into another health insurance fund, the membership structure of one health fund stabilizes at the expense of the other. Due to the closure of City BKK, however, many sick and elderly compulsorily insured persons have to look for a new health insurance fund. Many coffers meet the requests with a clear defensive attitude and try to abolish membership applications many times. Pfeiffer informed the City BKK insured that a rejection is unlawful. „People should not let themselves be confused“. Insured persons have the opportunity to look for a new health insurance fund by July of this year. After the closure, the right is still two weeks. If there is no change then the employer will choose the health insurance where the insured person was previously insured. Around 168,000 people are currently looking for a new health insurance.

Most members of City BKK live in Berlin or Hamburg. In both conurbations, treatments and diagnostics are very costly. Most recently, the membership structure of the City BKK was greatly outdated. Other funds could also face a similar fate. And that too is intentional before politics. Whether the actual effects have always been considered, will show up in a few years at the latest. The system is still reasonably stable. (Sb)

Also read:
Health insurance: In the future 100 Euro additional contribution?
Health: Government relies on capitation
United IKK: retroactive additional contribution

Image: Gerd Altmann, Pixelio.de