Millions of people have had to pay more for their statutory health insurance since 2023. But what apparently many insured people do not know: Numerous insurance companies also pay money back.
Kassel \u71 Since the beginning of the year, many patients with statutory health insurance have been paying a higher contribution rate. Because of 54 funds, which are open to the legally insured, 17 would have raised the contributions, reports the Manager Magazin, citing a study by Stiftung Warentest. For the coming year, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) plans to raise the contributions for those with statutory health insurance again in order to compensate for the <> billion deficit of the health insurance companies. Consumers who have missed a timely switch to a cheaper insurance company can still get money back from their insurance company. With some insurance companies, insured persons can even get back several hundred euros a year. The only requirement is that the member lives a healthy life.
Bonus programs can be worthwhile for policyholders: A healthy lifestyle pays off in cash
Those who live healthily are rewarded by their health insurance company. Because the health insurance companies assume that those who maintain a healthy lifestyle are also less likely to be ill. This, in turn, relieves the cost of insurance. Which is why health insurance companies have been offering their members bonus programs for years. And these programs can be well worth it. Insured persons can be reimbursed up to 600 euros in premiums, provided they provide the proof.
If you sign up for your health insurance company's bonus program, you get your money back. (Symbolic photo) © Marius Schwarz/imago
Each health insurance company decides on the amount of the bonuses itself. Focus Money has now taken a close look at the statutory health insurance funds in a major comparison. With the grade "outstanding", three health insurance companies – Bergische Krankenkasse, DAK-Gesundheit and Securvita Krankenkasse – came away. Among other things, the bonus programs were also evaluated. The information portal krankenkasse.de also asked the cash registers and came to the following conclusion:
These six funds promise the highest bonuses:
| Health insurance: | Maximum bonus for health services: |
|---|---|
| BKK Herkules | 600 Euro |
| IKK – The Innovation Fund | 500 Euro |
| DAK Health | 500 Euro |
| Continentale BKK | 380 Euro |
| Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) | 320 Euro |
| BKK Gildemeister Seidensticker | 300 Euro |
Source: krankenkassen.de
Bonus programs of the health insurance companies: Membership in a gym is also rewarded
Stiftung Warentest also carried out such a bonus test back in 2021 and found that there is a quick bonus of between five and ten euros for preventive services such as early cancer detection or vaccinations. Sports and prevention courses or a membership in the gym were also part of prevention. Here, however, insured persons would sometimes have to collect several measures – depending on the insurance company – before the bonus is granted.
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The only requirement is that members register for the bonus program at their cashier. According to the report of the consumer advocates of Stiftung Warentest, the registration usually works online or via the respective cash register app. The accumulated points are later converted into money and transferred directly to the insured's account. As a general rule, the more measures an insured person takes, the higher the premium.
In order to get to the 600 euros of the BKK Hercules, an insured person must have 40 measures stamped. For the 500 euros of the innovation fund, even a single proof is sufficient. At TK, there are eleven measures for the maximum bonus. But be careful with the 2022 tax return. Only 150 euros of the bonus remain tax-free. (sthe)
