Stiftung Warentest: Testing statutory health insurance companies
Stiftung Warentest has subjected 75 statutory health insurance companies to a price-performance test and has found that it is often worthwhile for insured persons to switch to a cheaper health insurance company that pays more costs. For example, some insurers pay a lot more out of their own pocket than other providers. We summarize the results of the test and show you how you can save a lot of money.
Stiftung Warentest: Changing health insurance companies is often worthwhile
The health insurance rate is made up of the general contribution rate of 14.6 percent and an additional contribution. While the general contribution rate is the same for all health insurers, the additional contribution is determined by the individual health insurers themselves. The normal contribution rate is divided between the employer and the employee; the insured person must pay the additional contribution in full.
- The cheapest health insurance in Germany is the hkk with a contribution rate of 15.19 percent.
- The two cheapest regional health insurance companies are Metzinger BKK (Baden-Württemberg) and AOK Saxony-Anhalt with a total of 14.9 percent.
- How much you save: If you earn 2, 500 euros a month and switch from the most expensive to the cheapest cash register, you can save over 300 euros.
Stiftung Warentest advises: Pay attention to additional benefits from health insurance companies
- Not only the contribution rate is an important criterion when choosing the new health insurance, but the additional benefits are also relevant.
- For example, the most expensive health insurance company in the test (Viactive, 16.3 percent contribution rate) also has a particularly large number of additional benefits.
- Typical additional services include, for example, osteopathy, grants for professional tooth cleaning or for artificial insemination and various preventive medical examinations. But which services make sense for whom? Stiftung Warentest advises:
- Important additional benefits for families: child care U10, U11, youth care J2, early detection of skin cancer even for people under 35.
- Important additional services for seniors: advice at home, 24-hour medical hotline, home nursing, domestic help in the event of serious illness, even without a child.
- Important additional services for young and healthy people: travel vaccinations, early detection of skin cancer even for under 35-year-olds, subsidy for health courses (including fitness studio).
Terminate health insurance: you have to consider that
- You can cancel your health insurance at any time if you have been insured with it for more than 18 months.
- You can also cancel if you increase your premium. In both cases, the notice period is two months.
- You can find more details at test.de.
Tip: This way you stay fit and healthy for a long time
Additional payments per prescription of 10 euros, cost share at the doctor and in the hospital - it is cheapest if you stay healthy. Here you will find helpful articles from our guides:
- Tastes delicious too: The best tips for healthy eating
- Fat or sugar - which is worse?
- Warning, risk of infection: more viruses and bacteria lurk here than on the toilet
- Fit via app: the best fitness apps for sports fans and sports fans