PKV introductory rates often offer less than the GKV

PKV tariffs often offer less than statutory health insurance: Entry-level private health insurance tariffs could later turn out to be a cost trap, even though they offer fewer health services than statutory health insurance (SHI).

Private health insurance companies often lure their new members with so-called introductory tariffs. These tariffs are very cheap and are gladly accepted by young people. But here caution is advised: Later, such rates could turn out to be true cost traps. In addition, many health insurance companies often offer significantly less health services than the statutory health insurance.

Examine the health services of private health insurance
Who is still young, does not worry about the future. The earned money should be spent as much as possible now and today. Since private health insurance is usually very cost-effective, it will be completed quickly. A return to the statutory funds is then hardly possible. At the beginning, most newly insured people expect that all basic benefits are also part of the PKV contract. Cures, rehabilitation measures (rehabilitation) and psychotherapy should always be included in the package. But such „the fundamental nature“ are often not part of the tariffs, although even the statutory health insurance undertake such services. For this reason, consumers should be very careful about which services are offered and what was actually recorded in the contract. Sometimes it comes down to the exact formulations that are difficult to understand for non-lawyers.

PKV starter rates are very cheap and should attract new customers
At the beginning, the tariff is still very cheap and unbeatable compared to the contributions of the statutory funds. However, many PKV health insurance companies hardly put aside any money for the retirement provision at the beginning, so many insured people get a nasty surprise. The tariff will be closed later for new members, so that the members in the tariff quasi remain among themselves. But health problems increase with age, increasing the cost of health care. The result: the tariffs experience extreme price increases. Some PKV tariffs experience price increases of over 300 percent. Suddenly, the insurance policy costs no more 150 euros a month, but 500 to 800 euros and the same benefits and conditions. A change in another rate for the same insurance is not welcome by the providers. Numerous insurance companies try with the most diverse means to prevent the customers from switching. Some insurers even demanded horrendous „exchange fees“. These at least belong to the past, since courts deny such change fees.

Many private health insurances only quote health care benefits that are fully recoverable at the entry-level tariffs. With the normal tariffs the focus is more on the exclusion of benefits. Young and still inexperienced people do not see through these different offers and can therefore hardly decide which tariff is really important and correct. Can the services that are offered to me sufficient, many new customers ask themselves. The entry-level tariffs, moreover, have left some medical progress.

Cheap Einsteigertarife can also have other disadvantages. Thus, it is partially stated that not the full Privatororar for treatments at doctors is taken over by the insurance. This means that the insured person must pay the difference between the achievable benefits and the total bill out of his own pocket. The PKV insured can also be sometimes very high additional costs.

Change hardly possible
Once the tariffs have become really expensive, it is almost impossible for the insured person to switch to another insurance. For a change involves numerous disadvantages for the insured. The accumulated old age provision can not take insured in a change. Essentially, the insured person loses the provisions for old age. In addition, the new insurer also often requires a new health check after which a new tariff oriented. If you are older, the test will probably be more negative than at a young age. So it can happen that the new tariff after the change is even more expensive than before. This means that without high losses a change to another provider is hardly possible anymore. A return to the statutory health insurance is also not possible because the way remains blocked.

For these reasons, one should study the contracts before private health insurance and seek independent advice. The consumer centers are a good starting point for this. In addition, one should be aware that the statutory health insurance offers many benefits that are not at all in the private health insurance. Once you have turned your back on the SHI, the path is closed forever. (sb, 12.10.2010)

Also read:
Medicare discounts also for the PKV
Private health insurance: Worth a change?
Save on private health insurance
PKV: services and quality a change reason?

Image: Thommy Weiss