Health insurance companies criticize restriction Wahltarife

The Federal Government plans to massively restrict the eligibility of the statutory health insurance funds. The coffers defend themselves with clear criticism: The coalition tries to weaken the benefit of private health insurance, the statutory health insurance.

(19.08.2010) According to a bill submitted by the Federal Ministry of Health, the coalition plans to severely restrict electoral tariffs at the statutory health insurance funds. The reason for this is obvious, „earners“ should be lured into private health insurance (PKV). Because even the change in the PKV should be significantly simplified. This project meets with the statutory health insurance on strong criticism. In the course of health care reform, the Federal Government is planning to burden the statutory insurance of private insurance companies.

On the one hand, the black-yellow coalition plans to promote competition among health insurers, but on the other hand, private providers are also to be strengthened. Because in the course of the health care reform, electoral tariffs of the health insurance funds should be massively limited. The chairman of the Barmer GEK told the newspaper "Rheinische Post" that it was wrong to limit the scope of the statutory health insurance in favor of private health insurance. Because "it should not be about who makes the offers, but who makes the best deals," said Fischer. The head of Barmer warned the federal government against strengthening the market position of private health insurance to the detriment of the statutory health insurance funds. Fischer suspects: "The Federal Government is in the process of launching an aid program for private health insurance". The suspicion arises that especially the FDP one „clientelism“ for private health insurance. The same is true of the head of the AOK Rheinland-Hamburg, Wilfried Jacobs. He sees in the restrictions of the electoral rates a "clientele policy par excellence".

According to media reports, it should be in the context of health care reform massive restrictions on the election rates. In future, for example, cash-conscious patients should no longer be able to choose between elective tariffs, which make it possible, for example, to have chief medical treatment or to stay in a single room in a clinic. Only privately insured persons should be able to take advantage of these exclusive health benefits. In addition, it is planned to undercut also the foreign health insurance with the legal ones. Health insured persons should then conclude private supplementary insurance with private health insurance providers.

The Federal Ministry of Health led by Philipp Rösler (FDP) stated that it was not planned to "eliminate all electoral tariffs" on a flat-rate basis. Rather, one wants to "define the tasks of private health insurance and SHI more clearly. By implication, this means that individual elective tariffs that are of interest to private health insurance companies should be closed.

The opposition also criticized. Thus criticized the health expert of the SPD, Dr. med. Karl Lauterbach opposite the "Thuringian general", it concerns thereby a one-sided health reform, "which divides the private offerers at the expense of the legal insurance before". This would result in a further "desolidarisation" in the health system. Because not only the electoral tariffs should be abolished, but good earners are employed, should be much easier to switch to private health insurance in the future, as was the case so far. Currently, the rule is that an employee must earn over a certain gross amount monthly for at least three years in order to switch. This regulation is now to be shortened to one year. Employees should be able to switch from a monthly income of 4162.50 euros in 2011 from a private health insurance. In just one month, the insured must earn over the minimum amount.

Although the FDP Minister of Health Rösler has already announced that the unemployed generally free of the cost of the additional contribution, the Union still sees in this "need for discussion". For example, the health spokesman for the CDU, Jens Spahn, told the "Frankfurter Rundschau" that unemployment benefits for people in receipt of I would receive relatively high payments. Therefore, this group should pay the contribution. Only recipients of Hartz IV benefits should not pay the additional contribution in future, according to Spahn.

Until the end of September 2010, the Federal Minister of Health still has time to formulate the draft legislation. After that, the plans in the cabinet are to be decided. From the first of January, the "small health care reform" should come into force. Until then there will be many more suggestions. In addition, the coalition is divided on many projects disagree. (Sb)

Also read:
Black and yellow wants to pull good earners in the private health insurance
PKV: new regulations should facilitate change
Simple change planned in the PKV
Insured persons should be involved in medical expenses

Image: Stephanie Hofschlaeger