Cough and cold - More and more sick leaves in Saxony-Anhalt
The number of sick notes in Saxony-Anhalt has reached a new record high, according to the Chamber of Commerce Health Insurance. Based on data from insured individuals, there were 231 sickness cases per 100 employed members in the first half of the year. In the same period of the previous year, there were only 225 cases, and in the first six months of 2019, there were even just 152 cases per 100 members. The reason for the high number of sickness cases is mainly respiratory diseases such as coughs, colds, or flu-like infections, the health insurance company stated. Approximately one in three sickness cases can be attributed to respiratory diseases.
Barmer in Saxony-Anhalt also reports a continuous increase in respiratory infections. For instance, there were 189 insured persons ill per 10,000 Barmer policyholders in mid-June of a calendar week. A year ago, there were only 86 people ill. The Techniker Health Insurance (TK) also recorded a slight increase in the number of insured persons in the first five months. Accordingly, 6.58% of the insured were in the hospital. In 2022, this figure was 6.46%. The number of absences also increased from 2022 to 2024 from 9.76 absence days to 9.94.
- The increase in respiratory diseases has led Barmer, a prominent health insurance provider in Saxony-Anhalt, to issue a high number of prescriptions for medication to alleviate common symptoms like coughs.
- Despite the highest level of sickness cases in Saxony-Anhalt being associated primarily with respiratory diseases, it's essential for individuals to remember that seeking medical advice for a persistent cough or common cold is crucial, even with health insurance coverage.
- Interestingly, KKH, another notable health insurance provider in Saxony-Anhalt, has not experienced a significant surge in cough-related or common cold cases, contrary to the trend observed among its competitors such as Barmer.
- It should be noted that while respiratory diseases make up a significant portion of sickness cases, the importance of maintaining overall health with regular check-ups and preventive measures cannot be overstated, as this can impact the validity of insurance claims for non-respiratory conditions.
