Cash register increases additional contribution? There is no obligation to provide information

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Cash register increases additional contribution? Insured people no longer find out about this

Health insurance companies no longer have to provide written information about increasing additional contributions. What insured people should consider now.

The legislature sets the general contribution rate for health insurance. What statutory health insurance companies can determine themselves is the individual additional contribution. This year it is on average 2.9 percent, but can vary from cash register to cash register. The providers are generally allowed to adjust this additional contribution rate several times a year – but this usually only happens once around the turn of the year. Until now, the health insurance companies had to inform their insured persons by letter about upcoming changes. That hasn’t been the case since the end of July, says the NRW consumer advice center.

Even if some providers want to continue to provide information voluntarily, the reform results in a disadvantage for insured people. The reason: If a health insurance company increases the individual additional contribution, consumers generally have a special right of termination. However, if you wish to change, you must exercise this by the end of the month in which the higher additional contribution is due for the first time. Anyone who doesn’t notice in time has therefore lost their special right of termination.

A change is still not ruled out. As soon as the regular twelve-month commitment period to a health insurance fund has expired, insured persons can switch to a new provider with two full months’ notice at the end of the month. Even if you change your employer, you can switch immediately without notice.

The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center recommends that those with statutory health insurance regularly check for themselves: whether the additional contribution will be increased – ideally once a month. Changes can be tracked here:

• Health insurance website
• Health insurance app
• Members’ magazine
• List of health insurance companies from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds
• Monthly payroll

If you want to change provider due to a premium increase, you simply have to apply for a new membership to the receiving fund in a timely manner. The new cash register takes care of the change and all formalities, says the NRW consumer advice center.

According to consumer advocates, a low additional contribution alone should not be the criterion for switching. Insured people should also compare the benefits, bonus programs, optional tariffs and the service.