Health insurance contributions again determine themselves

GKV demands renewed contribution autonomy of the legal health insurance companies

07/17/2012

Since the health care reform in 2009, the contribution rate for statutory health insurance is set by the state. In order to strengthen the competition of the health insurance, the top federation of the legal health insurance companies (GKV) demands a renewed contribution autonomy.

Self-determination at contribution rate
„Health insurance companies should in future determine the contribution level themselves“, so the requirement of the federation of the health insurance companies. Cash desk boss Doris Pfeiffer told the daily newspaper on Tuesday „Rheinische Post (RP)“: "We are of the opinion that the health insurance funds should get back their total contribution autonomy". Currently, the funds only have room for maneuver with the help of additional contributions or distributions of premiums. Will the policy be an effective competition of the statutory health insurance, „then the price competition is part of it, "Pfeiffer warns that some health insurance companies have already reduced their contributions under the old conditions, the health insurance chief continues.

In the course of the introduction of the health fund at the beginning of 2009, the contribution rate for all health insurance funds was adjusted and codified. The regular rate is currently 15.5 percent of the insured person's income. According to SGB V this will be increased if the financial needs of health insurance companies increase overall. If individual funds require higher income, they must introduce an additional contribution and can also determine the lump sum. Politicians want the number of providers to be minimized by competition in the future. (Sb)

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Image: Claudia Hautumm