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Health insurance contributions up to 150 euros higher: what can pensioners do now?

2023-03-07T13:31:19.631Z


The health insurance contributions increased at the turn of the year for some insurance companies. Pensioners are now also feeling the effects of the higher contributions. Is a change worth it?


The health insurance contributions increased at the turn of the year for some insurance companies.

Pensioners are now also feeling the effects of the higher contributions.

Is a change worth it?

Hamburg – At the turn of the year, many health insurance companies increased their contributions.

Many people with statutory health insurance therefore had to pay the higher contributions in January.

Since March*, a number of pensioners have had to dig deeper into their pockets.

According to

T-online,

senior citizens could face up to 150 euros more per year.

In view of the still expensive food prices and hefty energy costs, this should bring some older people to the pain limit of their stress.

Switching to a health plan with a lower premium is the only way retirees can cut costs.

Cash contributions rise significantly: what costs pensioners can expect

Which funds have increased their contributions can be seen on the online comparison portal krankenkasseninfo.de.

For example,

AOK Bayern

has increased its additional contribution by 0.28 percentage points to a contribution rate of 1.58 percent.

The

BAHN-BKK

has adjusted the additional contribution to 1.7 percent and,

according to the online portal, the

DAK Gesundheit has increased it from 1.5 percent to 1.7 percent.

As soon as a health insurance company increases its additional contributions, all insured persons have a

special right of termination

that allows them to switch funds, explain consumer advocates from the

Federal Association of Consumer Protection.

The notice period of two months must always be observed.

+

Attention pensioners: changing health insurance can now be worthwhile for many seniors.

(icon picture)

© Zoonar.com/stock photos-mg/Imago

Many health insurance companies increased their additional contributions at the turn of the year

The

general contribution rate for health insurance

for pensioners throughout Germany is

14.6 percent

.

Pensioners bear half of it, i.e. 7.3 percent - the other half is covered by the German pension insurance.

The pensioners' share is automatically deducted from the monthly pension payment.

In addition to the general contribution rate, the health insurance companies set a so-called

additional contribution

individually.

The pension insurance also contributes half of the additional contribution.

At the turn of the year 2023, many health insurance companies raised this additional contribution - it is often 0.1 to 0.5 percent higher than in 2022.

An example:

If the additional contribution of the health insurance company is 1.6 percent, the insured now have to pay 0.8 percent of it themselves pay.

Pensioners also have to pay the

contribution to long-term care insurance

.

This will be 3.05 percent in 2023, or 3.40 percent for childless people.

Pensioners bear this long-term care insurance contribution alone.

*

If the pension insurance company pays the contributions to the health insurance fund, the increase in the additional contribution will only take effect after a two-month delay, according to consumer advocates.

This also applies if a contribution decreases.

The largest increase in the health insurance contribution is 0.5 percentage points.

Retirees with a standard pension would have to accept deductions of up to 49 euros for health insurance within a year in the old federal states, and up to 48 euros in the new federal states.

In addition, widower's pensions and company pensions or a part-time job would also be used.

Pensioners whose pension is more than EUR 4,987.50 "pay health insurance contributions up to EUR 150 more in the next twelve months," reports

T-online

.

Higher health insurance contributions for pensioners: Use comparison portals to compare

Before seniors change health insurance, they should check the offers.

This works, for example, with the online comparison portal Verivox or Check24.

However, seniors should change the occupational group to "pensioners" and after a few personal entries they will receive a list of health insurers for comparison.

If you are looking to switch to a cheaper health insurance company, you should also compare the range of services offered by the respective statutory health insurance company with tariff details and range of services beforehand.

For example, a subsidy for a hearing aid or glasses or a denture service in addition to the fixed subsidy can be the decisive factor.

According to a report by Verivox, pensioners could save up to 88 euros a year by switching health insurance funds, reports

T-online.

List of rubrics: © Zoonar.com/stock photos-mg/Imago

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2023-03-07

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