Krankenkassen to raise rates before year-end:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Three of the largest German health insurance funds (Krankenkassen) intend to raise contribution rates by around 0.5% before being forced to lower them by 0.4% from January 1st, 1997. Although rates are frozen until the end of the year (see Clinica No 724, p 3), the Barmer Ersatzkasse, Techniker Krankenkasse and the Deutsche Angestellenkrankenkasse - representing around 30% of Germans - aim to take advantage of a legislative loophole relating to the financing procedures of the Krankenkassen, reports Handelsblatt.