Statutory health insurance: The test winners of 2022

Created: 06/14/2022Updated: 06/14/2022 12:04 p.m

By: Laura Knops

Many health insurance companies differ in the preventive and additional services they offer.

When changing, not only savings are possible.

Munich – Health insurance is compulsory for every citizen in Germany.

For most services, however, it does not matter which of the numerous statutory health insurance companies you are registered with.

Because many treatments are prescribed by law.

Nevertheless, a closer look can be useful: In the best case, you not only save on contributions when you switch, but also receive a number of voluntary additional benefits.

This is shown by a check by Stiftung Warentest.

Statutory health insurance: The test winners of 2022

Those who are legally insured in this country are spoiled for choice: in hardly any other European country are there as many different health insurance companies available to patients as in Germany.

For this reason, the experts at Stiftung Warentest examined 71 insurance companies.

Patients can not only save on contributions, there are also differences between the statutory health insurance companies for extras such as osteopathy for children and tooth cleaning.

However, the majority of the services provided by statutory health insurance companies do not differ.

In addition to regular treatments at the family doctor, all insurance companies must also cover stays in hospital, rehabilitation measures, visits to the dentist for teeth cleaning and visits to the physiotherapist.

Because what is reimbursed is determined by the Federal Joint Committee.

This determines whether the costs for treatments are covered or not.

Nevertheless, the funds can determine part of their services themselves.

It is precisely these individual services that the Finanztest experts have scrutinized.

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Statutory health insurance: These additional services are important

Stiftung Warentest has checked all health insurance companies that anyone can join.

The examiners compared all the extra benefits of the health insurance companies, the additional contributions and the amount of the reserves.

However, the choice of health insurance company is a decision that depends on individual expectations and life circumstances.

For example, while families benefit from additional check-ups for children, others attach more importance to subsidies for sports medicine examinations.

The health insurance companies offer these extra services:

• Professional tooth cleaning: Most health insurance companies cover part of the cost at 35 to 60 euros.

  However, some health insurance companies do not provide any subsidies.

• Osteopathy: Many health insurance companies contribute to the costs of the alternative treatment method.

  Some even have a subsidy of up to 200 euros.

• Skin cancer screening: Insured persons over the age of 35 can have a skin cancer screening every two years.

  However, some health insurance companies offer more comprehensive examinations than required by law.

  In this way, patients can go for screening every year or earlier.

• Travel vaccinations: Additional vaccinations for a trip abroad can quickly cost several hundred euros.

  It is therefore worthwhile for vacationers to switch to a health insurance company that covers these costs.

• Bonus programs: Many health insurance companies offer a cash bonus for various precautionary and preventive measures.

  This includes sports and prevention courses, but membership in the gym can also be subsidized.

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A look at the additional services helps many patients with their decision.

Because you can also save a lot of money.

Statutory health insurance: These are the cheapest health insurance companies in 2022

Most health insurance companies have not changed their contribution rate for 2022.

Only eight health insurance companies have lowered the rates, 14 of the tested insurance companies have increased their contribution rate.

However, patients can not only save on the contributions.

Because in addition to the contributions, extra services also play a role.

In addition, the savings also depend on the income of the insured person: Switching to a cheap health insurance company is particularly worthwhile for high-earning employees.

These are the cheapest nationwide health insurance companies in 2022:

• hkk with a contribution rate of 15.9 percent

• BKK firmes with a contribution rate of 15.44 percent

• BKK Gildemeister Seidensticker with a contribution rate of 15.50 percent

• Bertelsmann BKK with a contribution rate of 15.60 percent

• Securvita BKK with a contribution rate of 15.70 percent

Anyone thinking about a change should first find out which health insurance companies are available in which federal state and compare them - especially with regard to the fact that the Federal Ministry of Health under Karl Lauterbach (59, SPD) has announced an increase in contributions.

The cheapest health insurance that is open throughout Germany is the hak with a contribution rate of 15.9 percent.

The BKK 24 is the most expensive at 17.10 percent.

In addition to the health insurance companies that are accessible to everyone, there are also numerous regional health insurance companies.

Patients can find an overview of the current contribution rates at the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures