Additional contributions should double

The additional contributions of the health insurance companies should be allowed to double in the future.

(03.07.2010) According to media information, the federal government wants to double the maximum limit for additional contributions of health insurance companies. Currently, the health insurances may demand a maximum additional contribution of € 37.50 per insured member per month (excluded from this scheme are co-insured persons). Now the maximum limit should be doubled, the new upper limit should then be at 75 euros per month. In the worst case, this would mean an additional annual burden of just over 900 euros - caused solely by the additional contributions. This increases the limit, from one to two percent.

Last Friday, the leaders of the coalition agreed, Frankfurter Rundschau said. In addition, the federal government wants to increase the general contribution rate of the statutory health insurance to 15.5 percent. At least the last point has been confirmed from government circles. Officially, the health insurance premiums and the increase in additional contributions will be announced publicly next Tuesday. The new regulations should be implemented in January 2011.

Currently, about 8 million people are affected by the additional contributions of the health insurance companies. About 400,000 insured have already left their health insurance because of the additional costs. Experts assume that additional health insurance companies will levy additional contributions. The reason: For 2011, a deficit of about 11 billion euros is expected in the health insurance funds. The Federal Government has long been advising on how this deficit could be stopped. The planned capitation initially seems to be off the table. Obviously, the contributions of the insured are to be increased and the upper limit of the additional contributions doubled. (Sb)

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