“Finally clarity for those in need of help!”
11.03.2011 17:45
PKV welcomes the Federal Social Court's ruling on health insurance coverage for those in need of help.
Regarding the ruling of the Federal Social Court (Az.: B 4 AS 108/10 R), according to which the job center must reimburse appropriate private health insurance contributions in full for a person in need of help, the director of the Association of Private Health Insurance (PKV), Volker Leienbach, explains: “ Private health insurance welcomes the ruling by Germany's highest social court. It finally creates clarity for those in need of help: their constitutionally guaranteed minimum subsistence level includes adequate health insurance coverage. Accordingly, the social authorities must cover the necessary contributions for privately insured people. Securing the minimum subsistence level is clearly the duty of the welfare state. He must not pass this task on to the health insurance company. But this is currently happening because the social authorities are artificially reducing the reimbursed contributions to around 130 euros for recipients of ALG-II or social assistance. Both private health insurance and statutory health insurance (GKV) complain that this reduced subsidy is far from covering costs. The GKV receives billions in tax subsidies for this, whereas the PKV does not. The PKV is unconditionally committed to providing lifelong protection for its insured persons, even in cases of need for social assistance. Every insurance policy requires a corresponding premium payment. But although the PKV has already reduced the contribution in the basic tariff by half if you need help, the payments from the social authorities are not even close to sufficient to cover this. The welfare state denies those in need the basic necessities of subsistence. The current practice also contradicts the rulings of the Federal Constitutional Court of February 13, 2008 and February 9, 2010, according to which health insurance contributions are part of the subsistence level. The legislature must now repair the coverage gap created by the 2007 health care reform as quickly as possible by finally reimbursing full health insurance contributions.”