Health insurance companies in comparison: Is it worth switching now for insured persons?

Created: 12/28/2022, 6:22 p.m

By: Stella Henrich

The first statutory health insurance companies have now made their new additional contributions public.

Many contributions increase at the turn of the year.

Stiftung Warentest has now evaluated 68 registers.

Munich – Somehow the news doesn't come as a surprise either.

Many health insurance companies will increase their contributions in the coming year.

According to Stiftung Warentest, there are a total of 51 funds that will adjust their contribution rates as of December 28th.

The increase is completely silent.

Because the funds are no longer obliged to inform insured persons by letter about higher contributions.

For reasons of savings, according to the Financial Stabilization Act of the Ministry of Health.

The consumer advocates at Stiftung Warentest have therefore followed up on a total of 73 statutory health insurers.

68 registers were evaluated.

Only one health insurance company will therefore reduce its additional contribution in 2023.

The

announces a reduction from 1.29 to 1.15 percent, according to the test result.

You then demand a total contribution of 15.75 percent, but it is not the cheapest health insurance company in Germany.

For example, the BKK Gildemeister Seidensticker is a bit cheaper with a contribution rate of 15.50 percent.

Health insurance companies in 2023 in comparison: These health insurance companies do not want to increase their contribution

For some insured persons, switching health insurance companies can be worthwhile.

(Iconic image) © Christian Ohde/imago

These health insurance companies are already planning premium increases in 2023

According to Stiftung Warentest, three health insurance funds were already planning to increase their additional contribution at the end of November.

These included

with a total of 16.30 percent,

with 16.10 percent and

with 16.19 percent.

For many other health insurers, however, the decision was still pending or they were not yet able to answer the question at the time of the research (as of November 25, 2022), as a look at the test result shows.

According to Stiftung Warentest, only

and

were already assuming that the contribution rates for their insured would increase in 2023.

Health insurance companies in comparison: Switching can be worthwhile for insured persons - savings of up to 200 euros are possible

Insured persons should now regularly check the website of their health insurance company to see whether a premium adjustment is planned for 2023.

Because a change of cash register can then save money.

According to the report by the consumer advocates, switching to a cheaper health insurance company can save between 100 and 200 euros per year and depending on income.

With the help of a paid contribution calculator, insured persons can easily calculate for themselves whether a change is worthwhile for them in the coming year.

Health insurance change 2023: This is how it works properly

• The prerequisite is that

  you have been a member of a health insurance company in the last twelve months.

  However, if the health insurance increases the additional contribution in 2023, insured persons have a special right of

  termination

  .

• Adhere to deadlines:

  A cancellation is always effective the month after next.

  This means that if you cancel your insurance by the end of January, you will become a member of the new health insurance fund in April.

• Apply for membership:

  All you have to do is tell the new cash register that you want to become a member.

  This is now very easy to do with most cash registers on their website.

  If you prefer to contact a service employee, it is best to call the cash register directly.

• Confirmation is in writing:

  The new health insurance company checks all the requirements and contacts the old health insurance company.

  The change takes place afterwards.

  You will then receive confirmation from the new cash register.

• Notice to employer

  : The fund electronically confirms the new membership to the employer of the insured person.

  To be on the safe side, you should inform your employer informally about the change.

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Health insurance companies in comparison: Health insurance benefits sometimes differ significantly from each other

But be careful: when you choose your health insurance company, you are not only deciding on how to secure your medical treatment.

The insurers also subsidize numerous extra services.

These can vary greatly depending on the cash register.

Naturopathic treatments or osteopathic treatment will not pay for every insurance company.

A yoga class or the prescription of glasses are not necessarily part of it.

If you want to know which health insurers offer which services in your federal state, you can easily check this here.

However, this service is chargeable.

Applications for a change can also be downloaded from health insurance information.

The site is useful for insured persons who still want to find out which health insurance companies are approved in their state.

In principle, however, insured persons can join any health insurance fund in Germany.

Sometimes it makes sense to have a direct contact person on site so that changing health insurance is really worthwhile.

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