European health insurance
The European Health Insurance ( EUKV ) is a Europe-wide uniform form of health insurance . In Germany, it is legally considered a fully-fledged private health insurance policy, as its tariffs intended for Germans meet the minimum requirements stipulated in Section 193 (3) VVG. Since no old-age provisions are set up, it does not meet the insurance requirements applicable in Germany, which is why it is also described as non-substitutive health insurance .
Legal basis
At least since December 28, 2009 is seen in the European Union , the Directive 2006/123 / EC , the mutual recognition of service providers in the European Economic Area treated. These include health insurance companies based in the EU, also known as EEA service providers. In 2011, the Federal Ministry of Justice clarified what is required to meet the statutory insurance obligations: "It is therefore sufficient that the company is licensed to do business in Germany." EEA service providers can insure people with German domicile as long as the insurance tariffs comply with minimum statutory standards.
Major differences between the EEA and the EUKV
European health insurances are calculated according to the type of property insurance, in contrast to German private health insurance companies, which are calculated according to the type of life insurance. You do not save any provisions for old age and calculate based on the current claims expenditure of your insured. Contracts are usually only offered for one year, and those who do not pay lose their protection, while a German private health insurance company is not allowed to terminate even in the event of late payment or default. This is reflected in the tariffs: European health insurances are therefore much cheaper when you are young, but can also become at least as expensive (or even more expensive) than German insurance when you get older. In contrast to German insurance companies, European health insurance companies are not obliged to offer a basic tariff in accordance with Section 193 (5) VVG. In addition, if they take in previously uninsured persons, they do not have to charge any additional payments in accordance with Section 193 VVG, which makes them attractive for previously uninsured persons. Also, pre-existing conditions treated differently: Most attacks the so-called moratorium rule. Diseases that occurred and were treated within five years prior to the conclusion of the contract must be suspended for at least two years until they are classified as new and insured.
EUKV as an alternative for uninsured Germans
In Germany you are required to take out health insurance. Complete insurance coverage must be proven. If this does not exist, the uninsured face high additional payments plus late payment surcharges if they want to take out new health insurance. This is one of the reasons why uninsured people don't go back to German statutory or private health insurance. Pre-existing illnesses or a bad credit rating / negative Schufa report can also be the cause. In 2011, according to the Federal Statistical Office, 137,000 people in Germany were not insured . Many of them only theoretically have the option of taking out insurance cover with a German health insurance company, because additional payments required for uninsured periods would often lead to over-indebtedness.
Association of private health insurance versus EEA service providers
The German private health insurance association recommends its members not to recognize the European health insurance, but this contradicts a judgment of the Federal Social Court, which confirms the status of the EUKV as a valid health insurance. Ultimately, a private health insurance cannot prevent a customer from switching to an EUKV, but it can delay it considerably by not recognizing an EUKV as a follow-up insurance and in this way refusing to release customers who are willing to switch from the contract. Proceedings are pending for this. However, this controversial approach has led to some European health insurers withdrawing from the German market. However, if you deregister abroad at your citizens' office (address abroad is usually not required), you can use the deregistration form to terminate your insurance contract without any problems.
Individual evidence
- ↑ FOCUS magazine No. 14 of April 15, 2013, end of private coffers? It's worth calculating. Accessed July 26, 2015
- ↑ What are the differences to German private health insurance? In: jimdo.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019 .
- ↑ Commentary on the positioning of the PKV Association .
- ^ Judgment of the Federal Social Court of March 20, 2013, file number B 12 KR 14/11 R
