December 09, 2020 – 7:56 am Clock
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Additional contribution for 2021 should increase
Those who have statutory health insurance have to be prepared for slightly higher contributions in the new year due to the Corona crisis. The average additional contribution for 2021 is to increase by 0.2 points to 1.3 percent. But if you change health insurance wisely, similar to car insurance, you can save several hundred euros a year. In addition to the contribution rate of the fund, the savings also depend on the income of the insured.
Contributions have mostly remained stable so far
In a beautiful tradition, Finanztest asked the health insurance companies approved for statutory health insurance in December to determine the contribution rate for the coming year. 29 of the 76 insurers asked then announced their contribution rate for 2021. With a very positive result: So far, the contributions have mostly remained stable. According to the testers, the funds that want to increase were apparently not yet ready.
Funds decide individually about additional contributions
In principle, the health insurance contribution is made up of the general one that is the same for all insurance companies Contribution rate of currently 14.6 percent and that to be determined individually Additional contribution together. Both the general contribution rate and the additional contribution are borne in equal parts by employees and employers or by pensioners and the pension insurance.
The average additional contribution is currently 1.1 percent. In January 2021, however, this contribution will be increased to 1.3 percent. But for the additional contribution, the funds can also be above or below the current 1.1 percent, because each individual decides on the contribution amount.
Save hundreds of euros with a change
This offers a lot of savings potential for insured persons when changing health insurance. Often you can even save several hundred euros a year in this way. Finanztest calculates that if you earn, for example, 3,000 euros gross per month and switch from a health insurance company with an additional contribution of 1.5 percent to a cheaper one with an additional contribution of only 0.5 percent, you will save 15 euros per month. A total of 180 euros less would then have to be paid per year.
With higher incomes, the potential for savings increases, with health insurance contributions only being due up to the income threshold. This amounts to 4,877.50 euros per month in the new year. If such high earners change cash, they can even save 290 euros a year with the stated values.
Changing health insurers will be much easier from 2021
It is also good that all health insurers can be freely selected – even if the insured person is older or is currently receiving treatment. Provided that the fund is also available in the insured’s state. At the same time, changing health insurers will be significantly simplified from 2021: In theory, insured persons can now switch to cheaper health insurers every year, similar to car insurance. For example, if you quit at the end of January, you will find yourself in a new box on April 1st.
This is how the change of health insurance works
If the fund increases the additional contribution, there is still a Special right of termination at the end of the month in which the higher contribution is requested for the first time. If the regular termination is made, this will take effect at the end of the month after next. From January 2021, you will no longer be bound to your insurance for 18 months as before, but only for twelve months in all other cases, so you can theoretically change every year. In addition, the change will be much easier in the future: You simply register online with the new cash register and let the new employer know that you want to change the cash register.
In principle, you do not have to terminate the contract with the old health insurance company: The new insurance company does this electronically. Incidentally, there is no insurance gap when switching.
With these health insurance companies, the additional contribution is less than 1.3 percent
Apart from that, the evaluation of Finanztest shows: There are still particularly inexpensive health insurance companies, even if almost all of the final contributions for 2021 have to be confirmed by the respective supervisory and administrative board by the end of the year. With these health insurance companies, the additional contribution is less than 1.3 percent:
- mhplus BKK 1.28 percent (not nationwide eligible)
- Bertelsmann BKK 1.25 percent
- BKK Dürkopp-Adler 1.20 percent (not nationwide eligible)
- Miners 1.1 percent
- BKK Exklusiv 0.99 percent (not available nationwide)
- BKK Faber-Castell 0.65 percent (not nationwide eligible)
- BKK Firmus 0.44 percent
- BKK Pfaff 0.4 percent (not nationwide eligible)
- BKK SBH 0.7 percent (not nationwide eligible)
- BKK Scheufelen 0.9 percent (not nationwide)
- BKK textile group Hof 0.9 percent (not nationwide)
- HKK 0.39 percent
The currently cheapest nationwide open health insurance is likely to be HKK with a total contribution of 14.99 percent.
Don’t just look at the post
When changing to a cheap health insurance company, it should be noted that a little more income is then taxable. Part of the savings then falls victim to the tax. In addition, those willing to change should check whether the new, cheaper health insurance company also offers all the extra services they want, such as tooth cleaning, osteopathy or homeopathy.
For whom a change is worthwhile and what you should consider when making a decision, you can see in the video.
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