Private health insurers can be hit hard by lost earnings due to the Corona crisis. Because the contributions are still due. But there are ways to cut costs.
Hamburg (dpa / tmn) - The corona pandemic causes financial bottlenecks for many. For this reason, private health insurers often have problems paying their contributions.
In the event of payment difficulties, insured persons should always seek direct contact with their insurer at an early stage, who must advise them individually, explains the Federation of Insured Persons (BdV) in Hamburg.
However, there are legal reliefs for those affected: Insured persons can suspend the contributions if they have payment difficulties if they have experienced an economic emergency due to the Corona crisis. However, the contributions have to be paid later.
Affected persons who are dependent on social benefits due to the current situation and who, for example, receive unemployment benefit II, should inform the insurer and the basic security office. The insurer and the office then pay half the PKV contribution, as long as the contribution to the industry-standard basic tariff is not exceeded.
Return from basic tariff simplified in old tariff
According to the plans of the Federal Cabinet, anyone who has to switch to the basic tariff in such an emergency will be able to return to the original tariff within three years without having to pay risk premiums. Insured persons should always seek advice so that needs-based insurance protection is ensured, advises the BdV.
Insured persons can also reduce their premium by switching to a different tariff from their insurer. They have this right by law. However, only benefits that are not urgently necessary, such as treatment by a senior doctor in a hospital, should be reduced, the insurance experts recommend.
The catch: If you later want to switch back to the previous tariff, you have to have your health status reassessed. Those affected should best contact their insurer. According to the BdV, there are currently individual insurers that have made it easier for Corona to return.
Avoid emergency tariff better
Anyone who is in an existential emergency, but does not receive a basic security and cannot prove a corona-related emergency, will be switched to the so-called emergency tariff if he cannot pay the contributions. This tariff only applies to acute treatments and pain conditions and is not recommended in the opinion of the BdV.
Anyone who joined the PKV before 2009 can switch to the standard tariff under certain conditions. This is comparatively cheap and is based on the SHI benefits. But here, too, those affected should always seek advice from the insurer.
Remain in private health insurance even with short-time work
Many employees currently have less income because of short-time work. As a result, those affected can fall below the compulsory insurance limit (2020: € 62,550). However, remaining in private health insurance is usually still possible, explains the Association of Private Health Insurance (PKV).
Such loss of income generally does not trigger any compulsory insurance in statutory health insurance if the loss is limited in time, the association explains. This applies regardless of the amount of short-time wages and short-time allowance.
There are hurdles for switching to the SHI
Switching to statutory health insurance (GKV) is only an option in a few exceptional cases. The change is not freely selectable. Rather, the prerequisite is that there is an obligation to insure in the SHI. This is the case, for example, when receiving unemployment benefit I. Age also plays a role. A change from the age of 55 is difficult.
In certain cases, family insurance through the spouse in the SHI may also be possible. Those affected should seek advice from a statutory health insurance company on these complicated cases, which are regulated by social law.
PKV topic page
GKV information on freedom from insurance
Section 204 Insurance Contract Act (VVG)
Information from the BdV on social tariffs