Those who have statutory health insurance often remain loyal to their insurance company for decades. The costs, additional services and service differ significantly in some cases. This is shown by a current study of 21 statutory health insurance companies.
Benefits, conditions and service - the statutory health insurance companies achieve a good overall result in a study by the German Institute for Service Quality on behalf of ntv. 19 providers out of 21 scored "good", two achieved the quality rating "very good". The extensive services are often convincing: many health insurance companies shine with extensive additional services that go beyond the legal framework, especially in health promotion and preventive care.
In addition to the general contribution rate of 14.6 percent, all the health insurance funds examined charge an additional contribution. At the time of the test, this varied between 0.69 percent and 1.70 percent. What sounds like minor differences can add up to a hefty sum.
An example: With a monthly gross salary of 3500 euros, a good 212 euros can be saved annually if insured persons switch from the most expensive to the cheapest health insurance company. Also interesting: All health insurance companies tested offer at least one bonus program, which, in addition to health services, sometimes also offers cash bonuses - in a maximum case up to 325 euros per year. Optional tariffs can also lead to cost reductions in individual cases, for example through reimbursements of contributions.
The health insurance companies convince with friendly and mostly correct information on the hotlines as well as with e-mail inquiries. However, the individual needs of interested parties are often not taken into account enough. Another shortcoming: the (too) long waiting and processing times.
Overall, the online service is good and an app for insured persons is also part of the offer at all health insurers. Markus Hamer, Managing Director of the German Institute for Service Quality, advises: "Anyone considering changing health insurance companies should keep an eye on their own preferences and needs when it comes to the different additional services provided by the health insurance companies. Ultimately, however, the overall package of services, costs and convincing service."
The Viactiv health insurance company emerged as the test winner from the study with the quality rating "very good". The health insurer offers by far the most extensive (additional) services, for example in the areas of osteopathy and dental care. The health insurance is particularly attractive for singles and childless couples in terms of benefits and conditions. Among other things, the individual and complete e-mail processing as well as the online service with a website that includes a lot of topic-relevant content and contact information are convincing when it comes to service.
Second place is taken by the SBK-Siemens company health insurance company (quality rating: "very good"), which offers the best service overall. E-mails are answered very quickly, in a friendly manner and as required. There are only short waiting times on the phone in the test and interested parties receive understandable and always correct information. In addition, SBK offers very comprehensive services in the area of pension provision and comparatively good conditions.
The AOK Sachsen-Anhalt is in third place with the quality rating "good". The regional health insurance company offers the second-best conditions overall with a low additional contribution of 0.80 percent. On the phone, the counselors score with a comparatively quick call acceptance and mostly complete information - the website offers a lot of topic-specific information.
You can read here which are the cheapest health insurance companies.
