Why insurers flush with money and still raise premiums – z24

Why insurers flush with money and still raise premiums – z24

Reuters photo

Health insurance companies have their financial buffers increased sharply in recent years. Yet much of the premium health insurance in 2015, up

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In recent weeks, there was much to do about the increase in premiums for basic insurance in care. See also the article: Health Insurance in 2015, doing the largest health insurance with premiums

Many reasons cited for the premium increase is that the basic health insurance is extended by the district nurse and the fact that the premium in 2014. which was lower than estimated.

An overview of the income and capital development of health insurers, published Tuesday by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), however, shows that health insurers on balance not sit tight. The output buffers are increased in any case sharply in recent years.

Power Buffers insurers up

The joint capital of insurers last year amounted to more than 8 billion, two and a half times as much as the Dutch Central Bank ( DNB) prescribes. In 2007, the insurers had added up just over 4 billion in cash.

See the table below with the capital in the orange line (click on chart to enlarge)

The capital is mainly fueled by the fact that health insurance companies since 2011 profit each year. In 2013, the total came to EUR 1.3 billion.

The question is of course whether it is really necessary to raise health care premiums, as there is plenty of profit has been made in recent years and the buffers are increased.

Insurers bear more risk

The CBS notes in this regard on an aspect that is often in short supply in the debate on the position of health insurers. Namely that must by order of the government bear the risk of future additional costs increasingly self. Health insurers now only receive advance compensation from the government for any increased costs, but must itself bijlappen like this afterwards turn out differently.

Furthermore, insurers are particularly at risk with the transfer of the district nursing service to municipalities. This care will soon be paid from the insurance. In 2015, insurers are still compensated for unexpected expenses, but from 2016 they bear any risk.

Premium basic long stable

The amount insured pay annual health insurance premium has increased from average 950 euros in 2006 to over 1300 euros now. The largest increase occurred in the period up to 2011, then the premium for the basic insurance is hardly increased. In 2015, rising premiums for the basic insurance for the first time in years significant.

The income-related employer has in recent years risen continuously. Where employers in 2006 paid an average of almost 1250 euros per year, that amount was last year at more than 1,900 euros

source: Z24 / ANP