R + V boss Norbert Rollinger: tariff level according to corona vaccination status

Frankfurt, Munich It is a statement with a socio-political explosive. “As the insurance industry, sooner or later we will have to think about possibly differentiating tariffs according to vaccination status,” said Norbert Rollinger, CEO of the cooperative insurer R + V, the Internet portal T-Online. When that will be the case depends on the question of how long the silent majority of those who have been vaccinated will let the stubborn vaccination refusers dance around on their faces, said Rollinger.

In practice, the move by the R + V boss could mean that in future, for example, a distinction will be made within health insurance between customers with full vaccination protection against Covid-19 and unvaccinated customers.

Health insurance companies are already allowed to differentiate between smokers and non-smokers, for example. The consequence could mean higher costs for unvaccinated customers. Limited services should an unvaccinated customer fall ill with Covid-19 would also be conceivable.

On request, R + V Versicherung states that there are currently no considerations for such tariffs. “There is no effort to do this in our house,” says a spokesman.

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Even within the industry, people are reluctant to express themselves. According to a high-ranking industry representative, there are no agreements between the health insurers about a joint approach, nor are corresponding measures being planned.

Lack of legal certainty

The VZBV (Federation of German Consumer Organizations) speaks out against the introduction of different insurance tariffs for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. “It is not expedient to single out an individual case with unvaccinated people. Then you would have to provide special tariffs in other cases, for example measles, ”said the insurance expert at VZBV, Lars Gatschke, the Handelsblatt.

A lack of legal certainty could also be a problem. “There is no obligation to live healthy. That would also not be compatible with the risk classification of private health insurance. ”The customers would be classified at the beginning of the contract. If the health of the policyholder then deteriorates, the insurer bears the cost risk. “Anything else would be an absolute break with the insurance system,” emphasizes the VZBV expert.

The vaccination is a preventive protective measure, explains Elke Weidenbach from the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer center. She compares a corona vaccination with protective measures against other diseases, for example tests against colon cancer or cervical cancer.

Here, too, an illness could occur despite preventive measures. “The insurer cannot refuse to provide benefits if these protective measures have not been used,” said the consumer advocate. This also applies, for example, to benefits from disability insurance.

Vaccination against corona

Will unvaccinated people have to pay higher health insurance premiums in the medium term?

(Photo: dpa)

The procedure is also clearly regulated by the legislature. Section 201 of the Insurance Contract Act states that an obligation to provide benefits is only restricted if the insured person intentionally caused the illness or accident. Then a customer would have had to consciously become infected with a Covid 19 disease.

In practice, this is unlikely and, for insurers, can hardly be proven in individual cases. Just the fact that a customer decided against a corona vaccination does not mean that he consciously wanted a later illness, according to an insurer.

In addition, health insurers should not ask whether a customer with health insurance has been vaccinated or not. This also applies to the insurer’s own employees. The industry, on the other hand, relied on persuading its own employees. Almost all major insurance companies made internal vaccination offers.

The case could possibly look a little different in the future if certain occupational groups are required to be vaccinated. A corresponding regulation for employees from the health sector or from nursing has recently been in the political discussion.

Then the insurer could possibly also adapt the contractual structure of the health insurance for these specific occupational groups. However, the future federal government would have to deal with these questions, according to a large insurer.

Clear guidelines in the event of occupational disability

In the event of a possible occupational disability in connection with a Covid 19 disease, the requirements are clear. In the event of a claim, the insurer can, for example, require the person concerned to take all measures to cure the disease or which are suitable for it in the event of occupational disability. It must be possible for the sick customer to do this without risk and without any particular pain.

How this should look in practice can be read from insurer to insurer in the respective contract conditions. For example, some insurers make a doctor’s prescription a condition.

Only if a person unable to work does not meet the requirements of their insurer can this affect their insurance benefits. “I don’t see a vaccination as a suitable measure, because it doesn’t cure, but only prevents,” says consumer advocate Weidenbach. For R + V Versicherung, however, the proposal by its CEO Norbert Rollinger had consequences on Tuesday. A shit storm raged against his statements on social networks.

More: You can find the Corona news here.

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