Seventeen health insurance providers have raised the additional premium contribution yet another time.
For 2024, the typical extra payment towards mandatory health insurance has climbed from 1.6% to 1.7%. However, some insurance firms are grappling with a substantial deficit and have boosted contributions yet again this year.
Since May, 22 health insurance providers have made this adjustment. As per Finanztip's analysis, around 7.6 million policyholders have been impacted by these increases.
Usually, health insurance firms implement such increases at the beginning of the year. By January 2024, 37 out of the 73 accessible providers had already done so. Among the 22 providers that have unexpectedly raised contributions this year, 17 had already done so prior to 2024 and have now increased them again. These include:
- BKK Diakonie: currently at 2.69%
- BKK Dürkopp Adler: currently at 2.55%
- BKK Euregio: currently at 1.79%
- BKK24: currently at 2.55%
- BKK Gildemeister Seidensticker: currently at 1.99%
- BKK Pfalz: currently at 2.38%
- BKK Pfaff: currently at 1.8%
- BKK Textilgruppe Hof: currently at 2.8%
- BKK Wirtschaft & Finanzen: currently at 2.99%
- BKK ZF & Partner: currently at 2.1%
- Continentale BKK: currently at 2.2%
- IKK - die Innovationskasse: currently at 2.3%
- IKK classic: currently at 2.19%
- Knappschaft: currently at 2.7%
- KKH: currently at 3.28%
- Pronova BKK: currently at 2.4%
- Vivida BKK: currently at 2.49%
As Finanztip's health insurance expert, Barbara Weber, explained, "Insurance providers need money comprehensive financial shortfall this year." The range of additional charges now spans from 0.90% to 3.28% of the respective income. On average, it stands at 1.78%.
In regular scenarios, policyholders are bound to their provider for 12 months. However, following a contribution increase, they have a special right to terminate their contract. Affected individuals can then cancel their provider with a two-month notice period, which usually ends in January. Contacting the new health insurance provider is all that's needed, who will then handle the cancellation.
It's worth mentioning that health insurance funds can sometimes be below or above the 1.7% average with their additional contributions, as each decides on their contribution level individually.
In essence, the health insurance contribution comprises a uniform contribution rate, currently at 14.6%, and the individually determined additional contribution. Both parts are equally shared between employees and employers, or retirees and the pension fund.
Facile Swap of Health Insurance
Essentially, any insurer can be chosen freely. Age and ongoing treatment do not typically affect this choice, as long as the insurer is available in the policyholder's state. The process of switching health insurance has also been significantly simplified since 2021. Policyholders may now switch to a more affordable provider annually, in the same manner as auto insurance. For example, if someone cancels at the end of January, they will be with a new provider by April 1st.
If a health insurance fund raises their additional contribution, the special right to terminate the contract during the end of the month where the higher contribution begins still applies. Terminated regularly, this is effective at the end of the following month. Since January 2021, policyholders are no longer bound to a single provider for 18 months but only 12, allowing them to theoretically switch annually. Furthermore, switching has become more straightforward: simply registering online with the new provider and informing the new employer about the intention to switch insurance is all that's required. The previous insurance contract does not need to be terminated, as the new provider will manage this electronically, eliminating any potential interruption in coverage during the transition. However, when switching to a cheaper health insurance provider, it's crucial to remember that more income will become taxable, resulting in some of the savings being lost to taxes. It's also advised to check whether the new, more affordable health insurance provider offers all desired extra services like dental cleaning, osteopathy, or homeopathy.
(Correction: The text previously stated that 19 health insurance funds had increased their additional contribution again. The correct figure is 17. The article has been updated accordingly.)
(This article was first published on Thursday, September 19, 2024.)
Consumers who are policyholders of the 22 health insurance providers that increased their contributions this year may need to consider the impact on their budgets. Due to these increases, these consumers will be paying a higher percentage of their income towards mandatory health insurance.
