Unisex Rates: Existing Customers Remain Spared

The theme of unisex tariffs in 2012 a hot iron - not only for life and pension insurer. Especially in the Private Health Insurance was a gender-based discrimination and thus a separate calculation of the contributions to the agenda. At the end is about to change this, however, a decision of the ECJ of 1 March 2011 (Az: C-236/09) puts the screws to the insurers. Unclear long was the treatment of existing customers, the private health insurers in this regard have been waiting for a signal from Berlin.

Now the Federal Ministry of Finance Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU) has finally responded and clarified that existing insurance contracts for the change are left out. Those who have already taken out private health insurance can thus - at least for now - sigh of relief. For security keep insured with this statement by no means in their hands. The reason: The unisex tariffs could lead to significant shifts in the private health insurance.

Ministry sees no reason to change
In the eyes of the Federal Ministry of Finance makes the judgment of the Court to the exclusion of existing customers from the conversion process. Hartmut Koschyk, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Wolfgang Schauble said, so that there is no need to involve and existing insurance contracts in this conversion process. From the perspective of the insurer has a serious decision. Because so far it is unclear what the consequences of the separation.

According to the Insurance Contract Act (ICA) have insured the opportunity to change their rate in the private health insurance, without having to give up rights, if the powers of the two rates are comparable. Experts fear the fact that females use currently existing customers in the private health insurance, the chance to distinguish themselves from more expensive rates.

Hope and fear of PHI
According to behave the insurer to respond to what the Federal Treasury. Statements, as will develop the new "unisex" world into the private health insurance, want to meet anyone. Finally, forecasts are not only difficult but almost borders on "tea leaves". Unless the political level, the regulation process is completed, it is not likely to change much. The fact is however that some industry experts representing the attitude, the PHI will new contracts in the future with a higher proportion of women and calculate the premium difference to shorten existing contracts. A step, which could limit the appeal of the tariff change.