PMID: 9440911Aug 1, 1997Paper

Effects of decreasing sick leave benefits--results of a survey of Social Health Insurance members

Das Gesundheitswesen
U HelmertD Hebel

Abstract

In Germany, a sick employee usually continues to get his wages from his employer for six weeks either in full or reduced. After that period, he only receives "sick benefit payments" (so-called Krankengeld) from the statutory bodies, which, up to 31 December 1996, amounted to 80% of his original gross wage earnings. This has been cut down to 70% of the gross wage earnings effective 1 January 1997. The purpose of this study was to assess the consequences of this general cutdown of sick benefits. A standardised questionnaire was posted to a total of 7,036 female recipients of sick benefit who were members of a South German statutory health insurance body and who resided in various parts of Germany (membership as on 17 December 1996). 2,416 completed questionnaires were returned by 19 February 1997 (= 34.9%). The average daily sick benefit payment dropped from DM 91.95 in December 1996 to DM 82.39 in January 1997, which is equivalent to a sick benefit payment reduction by 10.4 per cent. The average extra cost caused by the illness and not covered by sick benefit amounted to DM 152 per month; one-quarter of the questioned patients were even compelled to pay DM 200 per month extra from their own pocket. Sick benefit recipients must a...Continue Reading

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