Health insurance additional contributions come again

The abolition of additional contributions is short-lived

12/27/2011

No statutory health insurance will demand an additional contribution from its insured from 2012 onwards. With the good financial position, it could soon be over in the near future, as several cash desk bosses explained. For the following year, 2013, they are expecting billions in revenue shortfalls. The topic additional contribution is therefore far from the table.

The good economy on the labor market and the contribution increases in the course of health care reform have brought the statutory health insurance companies a real blessing. While the private health insurance, as in the years before, must undertake high tariff adjustments of up to 60 percent, many public health insurance funds abruptly abolish the additional contributions again. As of 2012, no cashier has to pay an additional contribution. However, several CEOs of the health insurances warn against too much optimism. „The positive trend will not last long“, so the unanimous opinion of the cashier.

New additional contributions from 2013?
As early as 2013, the health fund will no longer be able to fully cover the costs of the health insurance companies, warned Christoph Straub from the Barmer GEK. The Barmer GEK is the industry leader of the national cash registers in Germany. Whether the Federal Insurance Office (BVA) agrees with the plans of the affected funds to abolish the additional contributions, Straub did not want to give any future prospects. One thing is certain: the health fund „should come under pressure again in 2013“, said Straub in an interview with the dpa.

Meanwhile, the Federal Association of health insurance companies (BKK) warns against cost increases, which take more cash savings into account. Ingo Kailuweit of the KKH alliance joins the forecast and sees 2013 „critical year“. The chief executive does not assume that the positive economic situation will continue. „Revenues will not be able to cover the financial needs in 2013“. The generated plus in the health fund of over 3.9 billion euros is a „One-time effect of past laws, as in the drug savings package“, explained BKK boss Heinz Kaltenbach. The association boss expects that the cost side with the medicines and hospitals will continue to rise.

Additional contributions have failed
Plan of the black and yellow federal government is the additional contributions as one „Element of competition and regulation“ use. If allocations from the health fund are no longer sufficient, the health insurance fund must resort to the means of additional contribution. The Deutsche Angestellten Krankenkasse, the KKH-Allianz and many other smaller company funds have recently decided to cancel the additional contribution from the coming year. The DAK wants to cancel the Zusatzobolus according to own data starting from the second quarter (1.April). Because the extra contribution caused heavy losses of members and deters new applications, the affected funds have no choice. After the DAK announcement, the example was followed by all other supplementary contribution funds. The fear is great to suffer the same fate as the closed City-BKK.

Kailuweit expects the coalition to opt for tax revenue in the election year to increase financial reserves in the health fund instead of provoking additional contributions. Nevertheless, in the opinion of the KKH Allianz chairman, the topic is far from off the table. At the latest, new ways and means must be found.
Similarly, the situation also sees the President of the Federal Insurance Office (BVA), Maximilian Gaßner. The additional contributions would have missed their target. The additional contributions have the intended function as „objective price signal not met“, said the BVA head of the dpa. „He gave a distorted price signal“. Cash registers that introduced such a contribution ran away abound the members. When the City BKK had to give up, many funds refused to accept the insured. The additional contribution became a scandal.

More financial autonomy required
Therefore, the health insurance chiefs agree on the rejection of the additional contributions and demand its abolition. The BKK-Verbandschef Kaltenbach sees every cash register threatened by the impact. The surcharges are one „Road to the dead end“. Straub complained that the avoidance of additional contributions is only a short-term goal of the funds. Rather, an improved financial autonomy is necessary. For 2012, however, a stable system is predicted. The changes in the labor market are only noticeable later. „Even in the event of a major economic downturn, the health insurance fund's financial position remains stable“. If revenue falls, the compensation will be borne by the Health Fund. In this are enough financial reserves, as Gassner stressed. The guarantee contribution for 2012 is around 185.4 billion euros.

The chairman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), Michael Sommer, also joined in the discussion. The union leader called for the abolition of the practice fee. Politicians from Union and FDP had „thought out loud“, to increase the practice fee to five euros per doctor visit. So far, insured persons have to pay ten euros per doctor's contact. Sommer warned that there is also another way to relieve the POS system. Among other things, he proposed a solidary citizens' insurance that includes other insured groups. The frequent visits to the doctor had not prevented the fees. Around „unnecessary doctor visits“ To prevent the fees should be raised further. „Insured persons may not be punished for doctor consultations“, so summer. The practice fee relieves the health insurance companies each year with about two billion euros. Additional contributions are required by the health insurance companies, regardless of the regular insurance contributions. On average, the coffers collected a flat fee of eight euros per insured per month. (Sb)

Also read:
No additional contributions by the health insurances 2012
BKK advita from 2012 without additional contribution
Techniker Krankenkasse pays naturopathy funds
Health insurance funds create additional contributions

Picture: Gerd Altmann