Money for walks – bonus programs from health insurance companies
Many health insurance companies offer money for health-promoting measures – including walking. IFA has now compared bonus programs.
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Insured persons can receive up to 60 euros annually from AOK through regular walks – more is possible through other health-promoting measures. This is according to a comparison of the bonus programs of the five largest health insurance companies by IFA, which heise online has access to. Health-promoting activities include, for example, protective vaccinations, preventive examinations attended, memberships in sports clubs or fitness studios, and achieved step goals.
With around 27 million insured persons in all federal states, AOK is considered the largest health insurance company in Germany, as the information portal krankenkassen.de proves. According to IFA, insured persons could secure up to 225 euros annually from AOK for health-promoting activities, of which 60 euros are for achieving step goals. For every day that insured persons reach 10,000 steps, they would receive 25 cents – up to 240 times a year.
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BARMER, on the other hand, would have the lowest step goal. Insured persons would receive 15 euros if they take at least 50,000 steps in four consecutive weeks once a year. DAK-Gesundheit pays insured persons 15 euros up to twice a year if they have taken 10,000 steps for seven consecutive days. Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) pays insured persons ten euros twice a year if they walk 60,000 steps in at least ten weeks within a twelve-week period. According to IFA, IKK classic does not offer bonus payments for steps.
Health insurance companies pay for fitness trackers
Insured persons do not earn the money directly in the bonus programs, but usually in the form of bonus points. These can be used not only for direct cash payments but also to subsidize the purchase costs for fitness trackers, smartwatches, or sports apps.
Bonus points are often worth more money when used to finance health measures, as the IFA study shows. While insured persons at TK can have up to 200 euros paid out directly annually, for example, the health insurance company reimburses up to 400 euros for fitness trackers and other health expenses.
In many cases, the bonus programs can be accessed in the health insurance companies' apps. The electronic patient record (ePA) and electronic prescriptions are also often available in the health insurance apps.
(mho)
