Last year, the contributions for the hospitalization insurances were already twice as high as the year before and now it seems that a new increase of the contributions is coming. Since 2001, the contributions already rose with 50 till 100%. The insurance companies have to take their chance now or never because on the first of July, there will be a new law coming into effect and then the rise of the contributions will be related to an objective index.
Lots of pensioners saw the price of their insurance double and some saw it even increase in fourfold. But with the new law-Verwilghen, this madness will come to an end! The adjustment to the new law are now in the last phase. On the first of July is the transitional period over and then al the policies have to be switched over so that the new law can do its work. Until then, the insurance companies can do what they want, which is nowadays clearly to see. Market leader DKV announced in January that the contributions would increase with 5,8% after huge raisings in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Also Ethias and Argent made their contributions rise.
A link to the index is one of the forces in the law-Verwilghen. Now they’re still waiting on the elaboration of the medical link with the law. The minister of the financial department Reynders stays very vague when we ask him the question if the medical link will be good for the consumers. For the consumers, the best case scenario would be if they adjust the index to the objective medical costs. This kind of index would offer most guarantee to reasonable evolution of the index says Freya Vandenbossche in her amendment. This amendment would be very positive and good for the consumers if it would be approved of course.
The biggest challenge in the future months will be to come to an objective medical index, that offers lots of security for the insurance companies but also for the consumers.
My personal opinion is that another increase of the contributions is just ridiculous. I completely understand that the financial crisis is a very rough time for everybody, but the consumers can’t be the victim of the situation. The insurance companies also have lots of expenses and costs, but the consumers also. And even in some cases a loss on income. They still have to be capable to pay their bills and being able to buy food and other important things. In the near future, there has to come a law, which protects us from the insurances companies so nobody has to be afraid they’ll not be able to foresee in their own needs.
Nathalie COUDEVILLE
Source:
http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=V5267QHC
http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=V5267QHC
I think that there has to be a law that protect consumers from the insurance companies. I know that there is a economical crisis but I do not think that consumers should be the victim of it. I also think that consumers should not economize on insurances. Even though there is a financial crisis, insurances are always important, no matter what.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI think it would be absurd if the contributions would rise again because a lot of people already saw their premiums increase a lot. The new law that will link the contributions to a medical index would be the best solution.
Ruth Blommaert