Status: 04.01.2024, 19:27 PM
By: Lisa Mayerhofer
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If you change your health insurance company in January, you can save hundreds of euros. This was calculated by Stiftung Warentest. An overview.
Berlin – A good one in two health insurance companies increased their premiums at the turn of the year. 37 out of 73 freely accessible health insurance companies will become more expensive in 2024, as Stiftung Warentest announced this week. A change can be worthwhile now. However, those who are willing to change should hurry.
Changing health insurance: Cancellation is best in January
This is because in the event of a premium increase, the insured person has a special right of termination. Cancellation must then be given by the end of the month for which the insurance company first demands the increased contribution. As a rule, this is January. So if you want to switch, you should do so this month.
Health cards from various health insurance companies are on a table. A good one in two health insurance companies increased their premiums at the turn of the year. (Symbolic image) © Jens Kalaene/dpa
The process is then at least quite simple: It is then sufficient to simply contact the new health insurance company, which will then take over the termination. Without a special right of termination, a change of insurer is only possible after twelve months.
Stiftung Warentest: "High earners even save more than 400 euros per year"
Insured persons can save hundreds of euros: "By switching to a low-cost insurance company, insured persons can save around 230 euros per year, depending on their income, and high-income earners can even save over 400 euros per year," Stiftung Warentest has calculated.
However, the experts also warn: "You should also pay attention to the extra services, which vary from health insurance company to health insurance company and are often worth a lot of money." For example, not all health insurance companies pay for professional teeth cleaning – or cover different amounts. The same applies, among other things, to homeopathy or travel vaccinations.
Health insurance companies: Savings potential through optional tariffs?
In an article, Die Welt also points out that there is also potential for savings via the so-called optional tariffs – but only for healthy people who do not need a doctor or medication. However, not all health insurance companies offer an optional tariff and the conditions sometimes show significant differences.
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According to Welt, the most common option is the option of reimbursement of premiums, which runs for one year: Those who only need preventive services (example: preventive examinations) but do not use treatment or medication can get about two months' contributions back. The cap is 600 euros.
If you still get sick, you don't have to worry: then everything stays at the normal rate. However, with the optional tariff, you are bound to the cash register for one year. In addition, even a few unexpected visits to the doctor will ruin the repayment - so you should not count on the money in a firm way.
With material from AFP