Health insurance bonus programs

 Financial incentives for health-conscious behavior: What insured persons should check to make the effort worthwhile.

You can score points with your health insurance company with health care services. Check-ups and vaccinations are rewarded by health insurers via a bonus program. While regular participation was previously mandatory, since January 2021 this is no longer a prerequisite for entitlement to the bonus. The funds for sports, nutrition and, for example, dealing with stress can determine further bonuses.

The regulations of the individual requirements are determined individually by the health insurance companies. Participation in health care is listed in the bonus booklet in which the respective measures are stamped and signed by doctors or course instructors. The reward is money or non-cash prizes. Insured persons should carefully check the rules of the health insurance company before choosing the bonus program so that the effort is worthwhile.

I have to make it worth the effort

The health insurance companies advertise with 100, 200 euros or even more profit per year. But the information always refers to the maximum and not the guaranteed yield. For up to 100 euros you have to attend between four and ten different doctor's appointments, courses or sporting events. At 200 euros, the insurers already require between five and fifteen proofs and at up to 300 euros even more. With a look at the catalog of measures from the health insurance company, you can estimate what is realistically possible. And many measures – for example fitness courses – initially cost money. Tip: Clarify in advance whether the course will also be subsidized by the cash register.

The devil is in the details

Before you start, you should take a closer look at the bonus programs. There are usually different rules for parents and their offspring. The youngsters usually have to collect less and are paid a lower bonus than the adults. Sometimes the co-insured partner is worse off than the member. Families should consider whether they would rather score individually or collectively. With some cash registers you have the choice between different program variants. Others allow points to be pooled afterwards or points can be transferred to another family member. But here you have to be careful: This option is often not available in all program versions and/or the transferability does not apply in all directions, so that, for example, only the parents can give their points to the children and not vice versa. Some health insurers also require you to decide in advance whether you would like to have money, non-cash bonuses or vouchers for individual health services afterwards.

Anyone who wants join

Bonus programs are completely voluntary for insured persons. Anyone who pays attention to their health can receive a cash injection or choose a non-cash bonus. But there is no penalty: If you don't manage your workload, you don't have to fear any disadvantages and the statutory health insurance benefits are the same for everyone. By the way: Bonus programs are mandatory for health insurance companies. They have to offer extras to their members and their families.

Sign up for the first time

To participate, you must first register. Most of the time, this can be done over the phone or online. Then you get a bonus booklet from the health insurance company and can choose from the suggested check-ups, vaccinations or courses.

collect correctly

The bonus program usually runs for one year. For many insurers, it is the calendar year, sometimes twelve months from registration. If you only start collecting in September, October or later, you have to hurry in order to still meet your target for the bonus in the current year. Some health insurers transfer collected points to the following year, others do not. In addition, each insurance company determines how many years the points are valid in total. However, anyone who - depending on the insurance company - has not demonstrated any activity for one or two years in a row must expect the health insurance company to automatically end the program. Then the bonus is gone.

meet deadlines

Each cash register determines by when you have to submit the bonus booklet in order to get the bonus. For many insurers, this is March 31 of the following year. But that doesn't apply to everyone: the deadline can end at the end of January or run until the middle of the year. Some health insurers link the deadline to the time of the measure, for example one or six months after you have been to the doctor.

choose rewards

As a bonus, the health insurance companies offer cash or non-cash premiums. Some put the value of health check-ups or sports badges in euros and cents, while others collect points that can then be exchanged for household, electrical or fitness items. Anyone who is saving on their favorite item should know: the grill, yoga mat or luggage set from the catalog are only examples. The products may differ in shape, color or design from the goods shown. In addition, the health insurance company can change not only the product range but also the rules of the game for the entire program at any time.

Bonus expires when you switch funds

Many health insurers tie the bonus payment to an uncancelled membership. If you want to change health insurance companies, you should clarify with the health insurance company exactly how long you have to stay with the health insurance company in order to get the bonus.

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