Health insurance for pensioners: reduce costs and take advantage of benefits

Health insurance for pensioners: reduce costs and take advantage of benefits

According to a report by www.infranken.de,

As an economic expert, I analyze the situation of pensioners who often struggle with financial problems these days. An important cost factor for pensioners is insurance costs. When it comes to health insurance, there are both mandatory and voluntary ways to minimize expenses.

According to the report from gegen-hartz.de and the consumer advice center, statutory health insurance for pensioners (KVdR) is available as a cost-effective alternative. However, not every pensioner is automatically compulsorily insured. The requirements for compulsory membership include various aspects such as statutory insurance during employment and periods of family insurance. People who are not entitled to a statutory pension are not accepted into the KVdR, and there is the possibility of insuring themselves as voluntary members if the minimum insurance period has not been reached.

There are also pensioners who do not want to be insured under pensioners' health insurance. Under certain circumstances, they can be exempted from the obligation to take out insurance. As an example, people with private health insurance who are eligible for assistance can continue their private health insurance while drawing a pension.

The costs for health insurance for pensioners currently amount to a general contribution rate of 14.6 percent, half of which is covered by the German pension insurance. There is also an individual additional contribution, half of which is also paid by the DRV. An example calculation shows that a pensioner with a gross pension of 1,000 euros has to pay a contribution of 78 euros for health insurance.

This information shows that retirees have several options for minimizing their health insurance costs. However, the exact impact on the market and consumers will depend on individual factors and circumstances. Still, it's important for retirees to be informed about their insurance options to minimize financial stress in retirement.