Health insurance companies block insurance changes

Statutory health insurance funds block bills for private health insurance

11.03.2011

Several statutory health insurance companies (GKV) make it difficult for their customers to switch to private health insurance (PKV). Some people who want to change should stay in their old insurance for up to three years.

Compulsory insurance changes in the health insurance system since the beginning of the year seem to go too far for statutory health insurance. Six statutory health insurance companies refuse, according to the „South German newspaper“ their members, who have an additional optional tariff, the immediate change. For up to three years, those affected should remain in their old insurance. The Federal Insurance Office (BVA), however, is of the opinion that a minimum binding period is not permissible with the electoral tariffs and that there is nothing to prevent a change from the legal side.

Health insurance companies insist on contractual deadlines
After the Federal Health Minister Philipp Rösler (FDP) had significantly strengthened the competitiveness of private health insurance, among other things by a simplified change between the insurance systems, the first statutory health insurance now apparently revolt against this course. The Verband der Ersatzkassen (VDEK), which includes the Barmer GEK and the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), among others, told „South German newspaper“ with that „the binding period for eligibility (...) has expired“ must be before the insured can change. Anyone who has, for example, completed an additional elective rate for premium refunds or deductibles, would therefore have to remain in his previous health insurance for up to three years.

Numerous complaints to the Federal Insurance Office
The Federal Insurance Office (BVA) has accumulated in recent months, a large number of submissions, inquiries and complaints regarding the blockade of insurance companies in a desired change. The BVA here represents a fundamentally different position than the VDEK and they have no reasons opposing an immediate change of policyholders. In addition, the change to a private provider is not a termination, since the insured, as soon as their income exceeds 49,500 euros a year, are only voluntarily insured in the SHI. Therefore, in the opinion of the BVA, willing-to-change only have to declare their withdrawal.

Compulsory waiting times for changes of insurance for customers unsatisfactory
Nevertheless refuse the Ersatzkassen their members with a Wahltarif the immediate changes, which can bring for the concerned sometimes substantial disadvantages. For if the willing to change in the imposed compulsory waiting time, they could fall through the health check that every customer must go through prior to admission to the PKV. So it would be possible that willing to change because of their state of health no longer be included in the private health insurance or have to pay significant risk premiums. For the insured the imposed change periods are therefore an imposition. On the other hand, everyone from everyday life knows the usual contract terms, for example when concluding a telephone contract. In some cases, change periods are simply inevitable, so that the spontaneous change of supplier does not cause too much damage for the individual companies.

Health care reform does not do justice to the problem
This decision was probably made by only a few of the decision-makers in health reform decisions last year. The fact that the statutory health insurance needs a little planning security and also in particular the eligibility of the tariffs the benefits for customers are justified only by the longer contract, is found in the legal requirements to simplify the change of insurance insufficient consideration. (Fp)

Also read:
Change to private health insurance from 2011
Legal or private health insurance?
Private health insurance: that changes
PKV and children: change should be well considered

Picture: Margot Kessler