Statutory health insurance companies: Can you actually save money with the bonus programs?

Pay attention to your own health and be rewarded with non-cash rewards or cash payouts? An attractive offer from many statutory health insurance companies, but it requires certain conditions.

Health care

According to the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), the term health care encompasses a range of preventive and early detection examinations such as flu vaccinations or mammography. The aim is to prevent possible diseases or to detect emerging diseases as early as possible, according to the KBV.

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Bonus programs

Since members of statutory health insurance companies are entitled to various health care measures and, according to the KBV, these are not used enough, all statutory health insurance companies offer bonus programs. They are intended to promote a healthy lifestyle and preventive health care by rewarding participation in various preventive examinations, vaccinations or sports courses with non-cash or monetary rewards. For this purpose, a bonus booklet is kept in which the respective doctors or course instructors confirm participation with a stamp and signature. Participation in the bonus program is voluntary and must be registered with the relevant health insurance company.

Bonus criteria

The health insurance companies themselves can determine the requirements for the respective premiums – i.e. the number and measures that have to be completed within a certain period of time. The consumer advice center therefore recommends carefully checking the bonus criteria before participating. She also warns that the information provided by health insurance companies “refer to the maximum and not the guaranteed yield”. It should also be noted that many measures such as fitness courses or professional teeth cleaning have to be paid for out of your own pocket. According to the consumer advice center, you have to attend between four and ten different doctor’s appointments, courses or sporting events for up to 100 euros. The higher the yield, the more evidence must be provided.

Special features

In addition to the requirements, health insurance companies can incorporate individual special features into the bonus program. There are usually different conditions for parents and their children. Many health insurance companies also offer different bonus programs depending on the age group (e.g. baby bonus models, family programs). Co-insured partners or children can be worse off than the health insurance member because, for example, the distribution of points follows a certain rule.

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Rewards

Not only do the bonus criteria and special features have to be taken into account, the premiums can also vary depending on the health insurance company. It must be checked in advance whether you will receive money, gifts in kind or vouchers when you achieve your goals. With some health insurance companies, this must be determined in advance. You should also find out whether the points you have collected can be transferred or carried over into the new year. If you change your health insurance provider, the points may expire, as many people tie their premiums to an uncancelled membership.

The consumer advice center points out that material rewards from the catalog are for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the desired object in shape, color or design. The health insurance companies also have free rein here and can change the range at any time.

Whether it is actually worth taking part seems to ultimately depend on the conditions of the respective health insurance company and your own discretion.

J. Vogel / editorial team finanzen.net



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