Health insurance companies merger to AOK Northwest

AOK Westfalen announces merger with the AOK Schleswig-Holstein.

(30.06.2010) Shortly after the AOK Plus announced its merger with the AOK Hessen, the AOK Westfalen-Lippe announced its merger with the AOK Schleswig-Holstein. As early as October this year, both funds want to complete the association. The permanent cost pressure burdens the health insurance companies. The only way out is to get bigger.

No sooner had the "AOK Plus" announced its merger with the AOK Thuringia-Saxony for the joint "AOK PLUS", now another general local health insurance fund moves in. The AOK Westfalen-Lippe and the AOK Schleswig-Holstein will create a new health insurance company called "AOK NordWest". This will create the eighth largest statutory health insurance in Germany with around 2.8 million members. Its headquarters will be the AOK Nordwest in Dortmund. According to information from the AOK, however, no branches would be closed. All insured can also keep their old health insurance cards, they do not have to be exchanged for extra. Even otherwise, nothing changes for the insured.

Through the merger, the AOK Schleswig-Holstein excludes the introduction of lump-sum additional contributions. Also, do not assume that members will cancel the merger. In addition, both health insurance companies would bring in a solid financial position. The Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) would have to give the merger, however, still their consent. Further mergers of health insurance funds must be expected in the near future. The reason: Larger health insurance funds can respond better to the financially tense situation. Especially smaller funds are currently threatened by bankruptcy. (Sb)

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