Twenty health insurance providers have once more boosted the additional premium contribution.
For the year 2024, the typical supplementary payment to mandatory health insurance has climbed from 1.6% to 1.7%. Regrettably, some insurance providers are grappling with a substantial financial shortfall and have had to boost contributions once more this year.
As of May, 22 out of 73 mandatory health insurance providers have boosted their supplementary contributions. Per Finanztip's assessment, this adjustment affects approximately 7.6 million policyholders.
Mandatory health insurance providers usually conduct additional contribution changes at the start of each new year. By 2024, 37 out of the accessible 73 providers had already increased contributions. Interestingly, 22 providers have raised their contributions unusually this year, with 19 having done so at the beginning of the year and now increasing them again. These are some examples:
- BKK Diakonie: currently at 2.69%
- BKK Dürkoppadler: currently at 2.55%
- BKK Euregio: currently at 1.79%
- BKK24: currently at 2.55%
- BKK Gildemeister Seidensticker: currently at 1.99%
- BKK24: currently at 2.55%
- 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%
Barbara Weber, a health insurance expert at Finanztip, explained, "Insurance providers require funds, they've accumulated a substantial financial deficit this year." The range of supplementary contributions now extends from 0.90% to 3.28% of the income subject to contributions. The average contribution stands at 1.78%.
Normally, insured individuals are obligated to remain with their existing insurance provider for a 12-month term. However, in case of a contribution increase, this obligation is waived. Cancellation must be processed by the end of the month during which the insurance provider first demands the increased contribution, which is usually January. Simply contacting a new health insurance provider is sufficient for handling the cancellation.
If the health insurance provider increases the supplementary contribution, the special right to termination still applies at the end of the month during which the higher contribution is first demanded. If terminated regularly, it becomes effective at the end of the following month. Since January 2021, outside of regular terminations, individuals are bound for 12 months, but not 18, and can theoretically switch insurance providers every year. The switching process has also become simpler: simply register online with the new insurance provider and inform your new employer of your desire to switch insurance providers. The old insurance contract does not need to be terminated, as the new insurance provider handles this electronically. A gap in insurance coverage is excluded during the switch. When switching to a cheaper health insurance provider, it's worth noting that more income will then be subject to taxation. In turn, a portion of the savings will be lost to taxes. Lastly, those considering a switch should verify whether the new, cheaper health insurance provider also offers all desired supplementary services such as dental cleaning, osteopathy, or homeopathy.
Due to the financial shortfall, some providers have increased their legal health insurance contributions, leading affected policyholders to explore alternative options. For instance, individuals who switch to a new health insurance provider with lower supplementary contributions could potentially save money, although they might need to pay more taxes on the increased income subject to contributions.
