Concern prior to the nationwide Opening of the offices of the länder : countries Minister against AOK-Reform

Great excitement about alleged reform considerations by Jens Spahn: a joint letter of protest four States have warned the Minister of health to open the previously organized at a regional level health insurance of the AOK-Association for Insured persons from the whole of Germany.

The AOK-Bundesverband, joined the criticism. When it come to such an Opening, threatened to "centralism, the withdrawal from the surface and one-sided price competition," said a spokesman for the daily mirror. Spahn had to "ask what he purpose of the proposal and what is the added value he should have for the Insured and patients."

It had also the supervision and influence

Previously, the health Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-württemberg, Bavaria and Saxony against such a step, turned. You would, by the Change of thought lose oversight and influence on your AOK. "We are of the opinion that the implementation of such a project would ultimately lead to significant distortions within the AOK system and, as a result of a weakening of the cash-in-competition", - stated in your letter, the daily mirror.

For those with statutory health insurance could be a Opening financially interesting, though, because in the amount of contributions from the eleven AOK differ significantly. While the funds en Bavaria and Rhineland/Hamburg charge, for example, an additional contribution of 1.1 percent, the AOK Sachsen-Anhalt is just 0.3 per cent.

fear of migration to cheaper funds

The Minister of health of the countries fear that something might Slip. The Opening up of the regional AOKs for the Federal-wide market, so they write would result in "foreseeable to problematic movements between the funds are Insured." It must be assumed, that especially the young-AOK-would change the members of your Fund, in order to save on contributions. "A significant negative impact of such changes in the structure of the Insured on the affected funds, and ultimately on the supply structure in the core area of the respective health insurance Fund would be expected to."

in addition, the Minister argue with the federalism. "Such a centralization of a for the provision of medical care in the countries of main responsibility is contrary to our view, some of the countries represented on the Federal principles diametrically opposed," it says in your letter. This was also not unite with the coalition agreement. "We assume that you can understand our position and that you will not be able to keep track of existing Consideration regarding a Federal-wide Opening of the primary sickness insurance funds."

Legal health insurance From 2019, it will be for all the cheap

The Federal Ministry of health would not comment to the letter so far. It merely referred to the upcoming development of the financial equalisation of the health insurance funds. Spahns reform plans are expected in the next few weeks.