Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

> Krankenkassen and Krankenversicherungen are not generally state entities

They are state entities established by law (Körperschaften öffentlichen Rechts mit Selbstverwaltung) and have to follow the strict regulations of the public sector. They regularly issue Verwaltungsakte.

> Would you call something like the Audi BKK a state entity?

Yes, absolutely. It's a state entity that provides care for Audi employees, since 2010 for everybody (and they can't legally refuse members). Audi has absolutely no input on their inner workings, it's really just the name and the fact that they have many members working there (and thus provide special services for them). It's basically a historical quirk of how the German insurance system came to be.

> No, health care contributions are paid directly to the Krankenkasse/Krankenversicherung where one is a member, not the tax administration (Finanzamt).

The Krankenkasse (to be exact their Einzugstelle) is really just a Finanzamt for social insurance contributions. If you don't pay they have the whole range to force you that's just available to state entities. See e.g. https://www.bundesversicherungsamt.de/fileadmin/redaktion/Kr... A private entity does not have these options and would need to go through general courts.

> Obviously not. In the health care domain, the Social Insurance systems and tax-based health care systems are different models.

They are different models (and should be contrasted) but both are financed through taxes (just different kinds). Yes, we don't call these "Steuern" in German but that doesn't translate 1-to-1 to other countries. "Abgaben" would be a much better translation for taxes.



I would not generally call a 'Körperschaften öffentlichen Rechts mit Selbstverwaltung' a clear state entity.

They are not owned by the state, they are independently run (by their members), they are independently funded (by their members), ...

Though they are heavily regulated, they have certain government mandated tasks and not typical companies.

'Private Krankenversicherungen' are not 'Körperschaften öffentlichen Rechts mit Selbstverwaltung', they are private companies.

> A private entity does not have these options and would need to go through general courts.

Like 'Private Krankenversicherungen' - they go through a court.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: