Special right of termination for additional contributions

Special right of termination for additional contributions of the statutory health insurance

23/03/2011

Consumer advocates: If the health insurance fund charges an additional contribution, insured persons can make use of the special right of termination. But not only additional contributions, but also offered health services should have priority in a change.

Special termination for additional contributions
Already almost one year, supplementary contributions from the statutory health insurance funds are introduced almost nationwide because the allocations from the health fund will no longer be sufficient. The rising costs of health are therefore passed on directly to the insured. The only possibility for the consumer is to make use of the possibility of special termination. This right applies if a health insurance company introduces an additional contribution or increases an already existing one. If you want to change then you should have the contractual clauses in mind. Because the right to early termination exists after announcement of the additional contribution just eight weeks. During this period of notice choppers do not have to pay an additional fee. Once the time has elapsed, insured persons can only claim the regular termination right. Here, however, further contractual special features are to be observed.

Compare additional contribution, service and health services
Anyone who plays with the idea of ​​leaving the fund due to the additional contribution load, should pay attention to the amount of additional contributions when choosing the new health insurance. The consumer protection center Saxony-Anhalt currently points out that additional services and service are essential factors that must be considered. Even if a health fund requires an additional contribution, the range of services can nevertheless achieve a saving effect. In addition, it is to be feared that all health insurances will in future pay extra contributions in any case. This is how an analysis by the Institute of Health Economics at the University of Cologne shows that from 2012 onwards an additional contribution from all insured persons must be paid. According to the scientists, the flat-rate contributions will rise continuously. From the year 2025, they forecast a nationwide additional contribution of a hefty 97 euros per month. „That would be an additional capitation of 1164 euros per year“ per contributory cash-case patient.

BKK Hoesch with additional contributions since the beginning of the year
14 of the 156 health insurance companies currently charge an additional contribution of around eight euros. About eight million insured persons in Germany are affected by the additional burden. Between 96 and 180 euros, the victims have to spend an additional year on their health care. Among the additional contribution funds are heavyweights such as the German employees health insurance DAK. The company health insurance fund BKK Hoesch was the only fund to introduce the additional contribution at the beginning of the year. Insured persons of the employment fund have the possibility to make use of their extraordinary right of termination by 25 March at the latest. Who submitted his notice until the deadline, therefore, no additional contribution must pay. Anyone who stays must transfer the additional contribution for the first three months in the amount of 45 euros. BKK Hoesch demands the additional contribution per quarter.

Social compensation for low-income earners
In order to relieve low earners such as Hartz IV recipients, the black-yellow coalition has introduced a social compensation in the name of health care reform. Insured persons who have to spend more than two percent of their income on additional contributions can claim the compensation. Experts complain that the social compensation is currently not applicable, because the amount of compensation based on the average additional contribution of all funds. Since only a minority of the health insurance fund levies an additional contribution, the average compensation is currently zero euros. This means that at present, at least this year, no social compensation will be paid.

No cap of additional contributions
By canceling the cap of the additional contributions, health insurance funds can determine the amount of the additional contributions themselves. The Federal Government hopes thereby a competition between the cash registers, since the regular insurance premiums are fixed uniformly. Over the years, more health insurance companies will enter or close mergers, so the total number of health insurances should be minimized. For consumers it means to compare with the beginning of health care reform cash benefits and additional contributions. Not only the additional contribution should be decisive in the choice of the cash register, but also services, as the consumer center Saxony-Anhalt in Halle warned. Because there are differences between the funds. For example, some health insurances offer alternative treatments for naturopathy, while for others the reimbursement of vaccines is much more pronounced. Decisive should also be customer care and service. Direct local contacts ensure customer proximity and simplified processes. Consumer advocates therefore recommend an intensive comparison before binding. For if the contract was concluded, the insured must remain at the checkout for at least eighteen months, unless the new health insurance fund also levies an additional contribution. Then again the special right of termination applies.

Development of additional contributions
In the future, more and more funds will have to introduce an additional lump sum. Experts believe that in the coming years, almost every health insurance fund will depend on the additional income. The reason for this is the rising costs in the healthcare system as well as the demographic change in the population. (Sb)

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Image: Barbara Eckholdt