{
  "id": 1708737,
  "title": "Versicherte auf sich gestellt: Kasse erhöht Zusatzbeitrag? Informationspflicht entfällt",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/versicherte-auf-sich-gestellt-kasse-erhoht-zusatzbeitrag",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T12:14:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/steuern-recht/versicherte-auf-sich-gestellt-kasse-erhoeht-zusatzbeitrag-informationspflicht-entfaellt/100248060.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "The statutory contribution rate for health insurance is set by lawmakers. What statutory health insurers can decide is the individual supplementary contribution, which in this year averages 2.9 percent but varies between insurers. Insurers are legally allowed to adjust this supplementary contribution multiple times a year, but this usually occurs only once around the new year. Until now, insurers have been required to inform policyholders about upcoming changes via letter. However, this has ceased to happen since late July, according to the Verbraucherzentrale NRW. Even if some insurers choose to voluntarily inform, the disadvantage for policyholders lies in the fact that, if an insurer increases the individual supplementary contribution, consumers generally have a special cancellation right. To exercise this right, they must do so before the end of the month when the higher contribution first becomes due. Failure to do so results in the loss of this special cancellation right. A switch is still possible after the regular twelve-month binding period expires with a two-month grace period ending at month-end. The same applies when changing jobs, allowing for an immediate switch without a notice period. Various information channels provide insights. The Verbraucherzentrale NRW advises statutory insureds to regularly check whether the supplementary contribution is being increased, ideally once a month. To do this, they can refer to the insurer's website, insurer app, member magazine, list of GKV associations, and monthly payslip. When seeking to switch insurers due to a contribution increase, the policyholder simply needs to timely request a new membership with the new insurer, who will handle the transition and all formalities. According to consumer protection advocates, a lower supplementary contribution should not be the sole reason for switching, as they should instead compare services, bonus programs, tiered tariffs, and service quality.",
  "summary": "Krankenkassen müssen über steigende Zusatzbeiträgen seit neuestem nicht mehr schriftlich informieren. Was Versicherte jetzt beachten sollten.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}