If you fall ill as an employee, you are entitled to continued payment of wages by your employer. But what happens if you have private health insurance??
In private health insurance (PKV), different rules apply to continued payment of wages in the event of illness than in statutory health insurance (GKV). In contrast to the GKV, the employer in the PKV does not automatically take over the continued payment of wages in case of illness. Instead, private health insurance must be agreed individually.
This article explains which regulations apply and how you can best insure yourself.
Continued payment of wages in private health insurance: What is it???
Continued payment of wages is an important part of German labor law. It states that employees will continue to receive their full salary in the event of illness, at least for a certain period of time. As a rule, this period is six weeks, after which the health insurance takes effect. But what about if you are privately insured?
In private health insurance, there is no statutory regulation on continued payment of wages in the event of illness. Most providers, however, have appropriate clauses in their contracts that guarantee continued payment of wages for a certain period of time. This can vary depending on the contract and provider.
It is therefore important to check exactly which regulations apply to continued payment of wages in the event of illness before taking out private health insurance. If there is no corresponding clause in the contract, this can lead to financial losses in the event of illness. Additional coverage, such as private accident or daily sickness allowance insurance, can be useful here.
- Advantages of continued payment of wages: employees are financially protected in the event of illness
- Disadvantages of the lack of continued payment of wages: privately insured persons can suffer financial losses in the event of illness
- Tips: Check exactly which provisions for continued payment of wages are included in the contract and, if necessary, take out additional coverage
Ultimately, it’s important to always be aware of what protection you have in the event of illness and what financial losses you may face when you have private health insurance. A thorough review of the contract and, if necessary, supplementary insurance can help minimize financial risks.
When does the continued payment of wages come into play?
In the event of illness or injury, it can be difficult for workers to get financial assistance for their time off work. The continued payment of wages in private health insurance can be a valuable aid in these cases, maintaining salary payments for a certain period of time.
The exact regulation for the continued payment of wages varies depending on the insurance contract. Generally, however, it kicks in if the employee is unable to work for an extended period of time due to illness or injury, and is therefore unable to hold their job.
The length of time that wages continue to be paid depends on a number of factors, including the insurance contract and the nature of the illness or injury. Generally, however, it can be up to six weeks. After this period has expired, per diem sick pay insurance can usually be used.
- Important to note:
- When applying for continued payment of wages, employees should immediately contact their employer and their insurance company.
- It is advisable to check the exact terms of the insurance contract in advance to find out which benefits are covered and which are not.
- To avoid problems, it is also important to provide all relevant medical documentation and medical certificates.
Effects of private health insurance on the continued payment of wages
The private health insurance offers greater flexibility and better benefits than the statutory health insurance. However, it also affects the continued payment of wages in the event of illness.
In contrast to statutory health insurance, private health insurance does not provide continued salary payments from the employer in the event of prolonged illness. This means that privately insured persons are without the protection of the employer in case of illness and thus have to accept losses in income. To mitigate this disadvantage, however, private health insurance offers the option of taking out additional daily sickness benefit protection.
In addition, there is also the entitlement to occupational disability cover, which is paid by the insurer in the event of a long-term illness. However, occupational disability protection is associated with additional costs.
- Conclusion: The private health insurance offers better medical care than the statutory health insurance. However, it must be remembered that in the event of illness, without the protection of the employer, there is no continued payment of wages. To mitigate this disadvantage, it is a good idea to purchase additional per diem sick pay coverage.
What employers and employees should know about continued salary payments in private health insurance
Continued payment of wages in the event of illness is an important issue for employers and employees. Especially in private health insurance, however, there are some special features to consider. Here, employers and employees should know exactly what to do in the event of illness in order not to lose their entitlement to continued payment of wages and salaries.
When an employee falls ill, he is usually entitled to continued payment of wages from his employer for a certain period of time. In private health insurance, however, a waiting period may apply, which may vary from one insurance company to another. The amount of the continued payment of wages can also vary here depending on the collective agreement. It is therefore important that employers and employees know the details of their private health insurance and adjust their tariff accordingly.
Another important question is when the entitlement to continued payment of wages in the event of illness ends. Here, too, there are differences in private health insurance to consider. It is therefore advisable to obtain detailed information in advance and, if necessary, to take out supplementary insurance in order to be covered in the event of illness.
- Conclusion:
- The continued payment of wages in the event of illness is an important issue for employers and employees.
- In private health insurance, there are some special features to consider, such as the waiting period and the amount of continued salary payment.
- It is important to know the insurance contract exactly and adjust it if necessary to be covered in case of illness.
Conclusion
After a thorough analysis of the continued payment of wages in private health insurance, it can be stated that the regulations in this area are significantly more complex than in statutory health insurance.
The various rates and benefits of private health insurance make it difficult for employees to keep track of them all. It is therefore particularly important that employees seek comprehensive advice before signing a contract.
In addition, employers should make sure that they inform and, if necessary, support their employees about continued payment of wages under private health insurance in order to avoid complications in the event of illness.
Overall, it should be noted that private health insurance for employees can certainly offer advantages, but you should thoroughly inform yourself about the different rates and benefits before signing a contract.
- Be thoroughly informed about the various rates and benefits available.
- Get comprehensive advice before signing a contract.
- As an employer, support your employees in the matter of continued payment of wages in private health insurance.