Health insurance companies can collect additional contributions

Health insurance companies can collect additional contributions

15/08/2011

The statutory health insurance funds have now moved to nagging payers on the ground. According to a survey of the magazine „The mirror“ At 22 main customs offices in Germany, more than 150,000 insured persons did not pay their additional contributions in the last six months of 2011. The coffers have therefore been for some time to collect the missing additional contributions by customs. Anyone who wants to avoid wage seizures should therefore settle the missing amounts as quickly as possible.

Only a few health insurance companies demand additional contributions from the insured. But many insured refuse to transfer the additional costs for different reasons. Because the additional amounts are not automatically deducted from the pay slip, but usually have to be paid extra monthly. According to the health insurance companies, over 150,000 insured persons did not pay their contributions in the first half of the year. With an average additional contribution of eight euros, this amounts to around 1.2 million euros per month, which are missing in the health insurance funds.

In order to collect the missing amounts, main customs offices were endeavored, which now try to collect the funds by means of salary or pension seizures. In the magazine „The mirror“ It was to be read that in many cases it is sufficient to inform the debtor by warning letter. With the help of the tax collectors, the health insurance funds handle enormous administrative expenses that arise from the dunning process. Although currently only 11 out of 150 health insurance companies charge an additional contribution. However, the number of affected insured persons is expected to rise rapidly in the coming years. The Federal Ministry of Health also expects that billions in social security will be available especially for low-paid workers. Currently this is not exhausted, because only the average additional contribution of all health insurances applies. And that is currently at zero euros. (Sb)

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