If you are liable to pay monthly health insurance premiums but fail to do so, that amount is considered outstanding payment.
Since the German government made health insurance mandatory for everyone living and working in Germany in 2009, insurance providers have not been able to routinely cancel the contracts of policyholders who fall behind on their premiums. As a result, outstanding payments can mount up and accrue interest if the policyholder is unable to pay.
If premiums remain unpaid after two months despite warnings, the benefits and services arising from an insurance contract will then be limited to pain-relieving or emergency medical care, as well as treatment for pregnant women and standard screenings. The full benefits and services of the contract will be restored once all outstanding payments are settled.
In the public health insurance system (GKV), insurance providers sometimes agree to restore full services in return for a commitment to settle outstanding payments in instalments – though this is subject to specific conditions and is at the provider’s discretion.
In the private health insurance system (PKV), policyholders who fall behind on their payments will be switched to an emergency tariff (Notlagentarif) in which they do not accrue any old-age provisions. They can be switched back to the normal tariff once all outstanding payments have been settled.
If you are eligible for private health insurance and you are in Germany on a visa or a limited permit, we can offer you the Expat Tariff up to five years.
ottonova is fully regulated by the BaFin and therefore fulfilling the requirements (§ 257 7Abs. 2a Satz 1 SGB V and the § 61 Abs. 5 SGB XI) for you to be able to apply for a visa with your ottonova insurance, which also includes our Expat tariff of course.
We can help you write your cancellation letter for your current insurer and send it to you by email. You simply need to add your insurance number and signature and then send it to your insurer. We are unfortunately not allowed to contact your current insurer directly.
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