Those insured by statutory health insurance want more transparency in how their contributions are handled

20.07.2021 09:37

For almost 90 percent of those insured by statutory health insurance, the administration of health insurance contributions is a big unknown - this is the result of a representative survey by YouGov on behalf of the SBK Siemens company health insurance company. The respondents have no idea how health insurance contributions are managed. But the desire for more comprehensibility and transparency is great: around three quarters of the 1,815 participants would like more information about the financial situation of their own health insurance company. Almost 70 percent would also like to see more comprehensible distribution mechanisms for their health insurance contributions.

The SBK had already carried out a survey on the financing of health insurance companies in 2014. At that time, almost a third of those surveyed assumed that their own health insurance company also managed their own contributions. Almost 43 percent admitted that they do not know how their contributions are managed. The results are almost the same seven years later: 41 percent say they do not know how fund contributions are managed. 34 percent assume that the health insurance funds manage the contributions of their insured persons themselves. Only 23 percent know about central management of income.

Insured people trust their health insurance company when it comes to revenue management

When asked what type of administration the insured prefer, it becomes clear: almost half (45 percent) are in favor of health insurance companies deciding for themselves how to handle their premium income. This value was almost as high seven years ago at 44 percent.

Transparency required

Most respondents would like more transparency in the handling of insured people's money: in 2014, almost 86 percent of participants were in favor of regular financial reports from statutory health insurance companies. In 2021, such a publication will be rated as desirable by 91 percent of those surveyed. 86 percent are even in favor of a legal obligation to disclose cash finances.

“We can only support the desire for more information,” emphasizes Christian Keutel, financial expert at SBK. “Because the insured trust us with their money. We act as trustees for the insured person's funds and guarantee that they are used sustainably. It is your right to know. In addition, reliable and sustainable financial planning can only be implemented if we know how much money is available. And unfortunately that’s not always the case at the moment.”

The SBK has been publishing its annual and quarterly reports regularly for years, making it a pioneer in financial transparency.

The results of the surveys at a glance and comparison

• 2014: 49 percent of those surveyed agree that there has been a uniform contribution rate for all statutory health insurance companies since 2009. 28 percent disagree, 23 percent don't know.

  2021: 29 percent of those surveyed think that there is a uniform contribution rate for all statutory health insurance companies. A third of those surveyed do not know that the health insurance contribution consists of a uniform rate and an additional contribution specific to the insurance company

• 2014: 26 percent of participants agree with the statement that statutory health insurance companies pay contributions to the health fund. 30 percent disagree, 43 percent don't know.

  2021: 23 percent of those surveyed say that health insurance contributions are managed centrally, 34 percent think that their health insurance companies manage the income themselves. 41 percent say they don't know

• 2014: 44 percent prefer that each health insurance company decide for itself how to handle the premium income.

  2021: 45 percent think that health insurance companies should manage their premium income themselves

• 2014: 22 percent of those surveyed think that the process of distributing money should be understandable and controllable, at least for the health insurance companies. 62 percent are convinced that this should also apply beyond health insurance companies. 10 percent trust the experts who ensure a fair and error-free distribution of contributions to the health insurance companies.

  2021: 51 percent would like the process of distributing money to be understandable and controllable for health insurance companies. Over half of those surveyed (58 percent) would like the process to be more transparent for the interested public. According to those surveyed, consumer advice centers (47 percent) and the Taxpayers' Association (45 percent) should also have a more transparent insight into the process. Only 8 percent have complete trust in the experts who ensure a fair and error-free distribution of contributions to the health insurance companies

• 2014: 86 percent of those surveyed are in favor of health insurance companies being required by law to provide unrestricted access to their business books and to submit a financial report. 10 percent don't think this is necessary.
  
  2021: 87 percent of those surveyed are in favor of health insurance companies being required by law to provide unrestricted access to their business books and to submit a financial report.