Health insurance companies demand an increase in contributions

Statutory health insurance companies demand higher basic contributions. After numerous statutory health insurance companies (GKV) demand from their members flat-rate additional contributions, now demands the largest German health insurance "Barmer GEK" to raise the general contribution rates of the insured. Background of this demand is the expected deficit of the health insurance companies that will be in 2011 at several billion euros.

(20.04.2010) On the GKV-insured in the near future all sorts of things will be added. First the members are unsettled with the new additional contributions and now a discussion about an increase of the cash contributions is brought to life. In addition, there is still the unspeakable and unsocial capitation in the room, which is favored mainly by the FDP. Background of the new debate is a billion heavy deficit that the health insurance companies retract. For example, the Federal Insurance Office recently estimated the financial deficit for 2011 at 15 billion euros. As early as 2010, a deficit of 4 billion is estimated. Despite the additional contributions, the deficit can not be absorbed. The additional contributions would compensate for estimates of the health insurance companies just 10 billion euros. In the future, contributors will have to prepare for spending more money on health care in the future. If not in this, then probably next year.

In the sign of the time now demands the largest German health insurance "Barmer GEK" a contribution increase of the general health insurance contribution rate. Also from other health insurance came for this demand support. Deputy CEO of the AOK in Bavaria, Walter Schwarz told Welt Online: "Against the backdrop of the dramatic deficit expected for 2011 from all statutory health insurance companies, an increase in the general contribution rate is inevitable." Prompt came to a response from the Federal Ministry of Health: "This year, the total contribution is not increased," said a spokeswoman. Then probably next year?

Meanwhile, there are increasing signs that now also want to raise additional statutory health insurance, an additional contribution. Thus reported the "Handelsblatt" that the AOK will soon collect additional flat-rate contributions. Currently, the AOK neither denied nor commented.

Against the backdrop of the expected higher contributions for employers and employees, the German Employers' Federation (BDA) has also joined the ongoing debate. For example, in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" it was proposed simply to cut back on the services of a total of 10 billion euros. Spouses, according to the proposal, should only be insured free of charge if they bring up children in the household. In addition, each member should pay a lump sum premium of 245 euros a month. This proposal is sharply criticized by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). The DGB demands the return to the equality contribution financing and turns against the proposals of a capitation. Annelie Buntenbach from the DGB executive board said: "The BDA's proposals are essentially aimed at restricting the benefits of the SHI, increasing co-payments and practice fees, and lending the insured another 10 billion euros more Extra burdens of 15 billion euros per year by the employee special contribution of 0.9 per cent, co-payments and the practice fee An increase of this special burden of the insured on 25 billion euro in the year is nothing but unreasonable rip-off, with which the employers out want to steal responsibility for financing the GKV. "

Buntenbach made it clear that the deficit of the health insurance funds should also be regulated differently. If the employers would pay the full health insurance contribution rate and the federal government would pay adequate contributions, for example for Hartz 4 recipients, the deficits of the statutory health insurance would be more than covered in 2010 and 2011. The next few days will show how the federal government will react. So far, FDP Federal Minister of Health Philipp Rösler was not able to enforce his ideas of a capitation within the federal government. (Sb)

Also read:
Health costs: capitation is not?
Member loss at the health insurance companies
No takeover of additional contributions by Hartz IV
Picture credits: Rainer Sturm, Pixelio.de