Impact of Changes in Statutory Health Insurance on Private Health Insurance

The 2005 reform of the health system made itself felt at several levels simultaneously. In addition to increases in contributions both limited and unlimited in time, some absolute deductibles were raised. The most comprehensive reform concerned the organisational structure of the health system. Under this reform, demand for health services is to be registered electronically and the range of services planned in a coordinated manner. If costs continue to increase, the system has two tools at its disposal, apart from upping contributions: standard budgets set below the actually expected expenditures or – a much more efficient route from the overall economic point of view – expanding existing deductibles and/or introducing new ones to the social health insurance scheme. Such a course, however, would make private insurance companies develop useful insurance products only if major risks were fully exempted from the public health insurance scheme.