Change to private health insurance from 2011

Change to private health insurance from 2011: For employees, the switch from statutory to private health insurance is greatly simplified.

From the beginning of 2011, the legal framework for a change to private health insurance (PKV) has been simplified. As part of the health care reform, numerous legislative changes are being implemented. One change is to facilitate the transition from statutory health insurance to private health insurance for employees. Instead of the three-year period should now be a „One-year period“ be valid. In addition, a special regulation currently applies.

New framework conditions from 2011
From the first of January 2011, simplified conditions will apply for the transfer to private health insurance. The black-yellow federal government wants to simplify much to the displeasure of the statutory health insurance (SHI) the change in the PKV. For this purpose, different measures have already been adopted to simplify the changeover. First, the mandatory insurance limit was lowered by 450 euros. This increases the number of those for whom a change is even possible. In addition, until the end of the year there will be a special regulation to facilitate the switch to private health insurance at the beginning of the year. The special regulation states that employees can switch to private health insurance already after the turn of the year, if they come over the compulsory insurance limit.

Reduction of the waiting period
Reducing the waiting period from three to one year makes it even easier to switch to private health insurance. From 2011, workers will only have to wait another year before they can change. The only condition: By the end of the year, the employee must have earned at least 49500 euros to change. According to PKV surveys, around 19,000 employees enjoy being able to think about a change.

A change in the PKV should be well considered
However, those should consider a change well. Whether costs for health insurance can be saved depends entirely on one's own family situation. Although the PKV lures with very low entry-level tariffs, but does not mention that the contribution costs increase over the course of the insurance years. In addition, Private Health Insurance does not know family reinsurance. This means that children with the private health insurance must be extra insured. And every single child individually. This also applies if the child's mother is insured in the statutory health insurance and the father has a higher gross income. So it's very crucial what your own future planning looks like. However, many young people who are childless and not yet married are hardly worried about it. Even services such as mother-child cures does not know the PKV. So it can be summarized that the private health insurance makes little sense when planning a family or already raising children. Attention: Anyone who has changed once can only switch back to the statutory health insurance in very rare cases.

Statutory health insurance companies suffer from the new conditions
Although one can assume that the GKV can no longer keep many benefits in the future and the additional contributions will increase, but understands the GKV as a health insurance „solidarity“. This principle is increasingly overridden when many good-earners switch to private health insurance and those in need and sick people remain in statutory health insurance. If the black-yellow federal government continues to strongly favor private health insurance at the expense of the SHI, the financial problems of the SHI will certainly increase. The billion deficit could ultimately be offset only by the contribution increase from 14.9 to 15.5 percent. Whether no further additional contributions have to be levied, is still in the stars. In this point, many experts argue about the financial situation and development of the funds. In addition, the proportion of employers was frozen at 7.3 percent. This means that all further premium increases must be borne by the insured alone.

Change carries risk
Conclusion:A change in private health insurance involves risks, especially for those who have not yet completed their family planning. Before you actually change, you should seek advice from a consumer center. It provides independent information and works with them together, which makes the most sense. Those concerned should also ask themselves if they want to participate in the weakening of the solidarity principle in order to save a few euros a year. All the more make the change, the weaker the statutory health insurance. The current extent is still manageable, however, if further legislative changes in favor of private health insurance are planned, it could be narrow for the SHI in the future. Nevertheless, it should not be concealed that, according to some financial experts, the situation of some private health insurance companies is not so rosy either. The financial crisis has put some insurance companies in financial difficulties. Some are of the opinion that now also the contributions of private health insurance will increase. (sb, 02.11.2010)

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Image: Dieter Schütz