Health insurance City BKK & GBK threatened by bankruptcy

The statutory health insurance City BKK and GBK are threatened by bankruptcy. Closing the funds is not excluded. Today, the association of occupational health insurance funds, which has been hastily appointed together, advises on the future of the health insurance funds in need.

Two company health insurance funds are apparently close to bankruptcy. Today around 120 board members of the company's funds come together in Berlin to discuss the future of the two ailing statutory health insurance companies. The BKK City and the GBK threaten a closure, if no rescue is in sight. The Federal Insurance Office is considering closure of the funds until the turn of the year.

Must close the city BKK and the GBK?
Only in June 2010, the Joint Health Insurance Fund (GBK) joined with the two financially troubled coffers City BKK and BKK for health professionals together. All three health insurance companies had reported liquidity problems to the Federal Insurance Office (BVA) at the beginning of the year. Apparently, the mergers of the coffers did not prevent the GBK has accumulated at least debts in the millions range according to estimates of industry experts. Similarly bad is the City BKK, here it is assumed that the cash register has a debt mountain totaling 50 million euros. In October 2010, the chairman of the Federal Insurance Office was still confident. BVA boss Maximilian Gaßner indicated at that time that the two company funds had stabilized their household. In addition, the City BKK had presented a recovery plan and the GBK planned a merger with another health insurance to avert a looming bankruptcy. Apparently, these efforts have not been successful.

Health insurance bosses consult
The total of 120 cash registers of the company health insurance funds must now decide whether a rescue of the two ailing funds even makes sense. A closure or imminent bankruptcy is not excluded. This was reported by the newspaper „The world“ on Friday. If no rescue of the funds is agreed today, the Federal Insurance Office could anticipate insolvency and close both funds before the end of the year. However, this would be the first time that two health insurance funds, which is open to all cash patients, will be forcibly closed by the supervisory authority.

Despite debt mountain: The joint health insurance company is confident
The joint health insurance fund was confident despite the difficult situation. For example, GBK chairman Helmut Wasserfuhr told the newspaper: „I assume that it will not come to a closure.“ Possible is a merger with the general local health insurance AOK Rheinland / Hamburg. This, in turn, confirmed a spokesman for the AOK: The talks are so far „Result open“, however, further details were not named. The GBK boss added that the fund had accumulated a mountain of debt, because a total of two health insurance by a blood disease would have caused high treatment costs. According to Wasserfuhr, the GBK would have a debt amount in the „single digit million range“ to book.

City BKK is so far covered
At the City BKK you do not want to comment on the tense situation. However, the Board of Directors of the health insurance company has relieved the Management Board Herbert Schulz of its duties with immediate effect. An interim board was appointed for the transitional period.

What should insured persons pay attention to if a health insurance company goes bankrupt?
If a health insurance company actually has to file for bankruptcy, nothing will change for the cash-desk patients at first. If the health insurance is closed, then the legal insurance cover is not endangered. If medical treatment has already started, the costs will be covered by the health insurance. Clinics and doctors do not have to worry about their fees. However, new health services can no longer be used in the event of closure. If the health insurance company is insolvent, the large insurance companies have to step in for the costs. If a company health insurance fund is threatened with closure, the BKK Federal Association will step in. If an AOK fund is affected, the AOK Bundesverband is responsible.

If the insured person is informed in writing about the closure, the insured persons concerned must change to a new health insurance within two weeks. The newly selected health fund is required to take care of it, regardless of the age and health of the insured person. If the person concerned passes the deadline, the employer registers a new health insurance. In doing so, the employer makes sure that, as far as possible, the fund is chosen in which the employee has already had health insurance. If such a health insurance can not be found, the employer selects one. However, it is urgently advised to look for a cash register. If you are voluntarily insured by law, the change period is three months in total. However, the insurance-free months must be paid retroactively.

Displeasure about the bad situation
Recently, the chairman of Bertelsmann BKK, Wolfgang Diembeck warned that ailing health insurance funds should not escalate their financial position. Instead, Diembeck advises the affected funds as quickly as possible to introduce an additional contribution. Only then can it be prevented that a domino effect is prevented. Because if a health insurance gets into bankruptcy, the other health insurance companies have to pay for the costs. This could lead to a financial distress for all funds. The taxpayer might then have to step in if the situation gets too serious. Many funds, however, shy away from an additional contribution, because experience has taught that many change the cash register afterwards.

First results of the discussions of the board members are expected in the afternoon. However, a final result of the discussions should wait even longer. (sb, 19.11.2010)

Also read:
City-BKK saved from insolvency?
Is the health insurance City-BKK broke?
Two health insurance companies are broke

Picture: Kreuznacher Zeitung