hkk health insurance
Bremen (ots)
- Employees sick for significantly longer
- Disability rate has risen sharply
- Prevention recommendations for everyday life
Employees have never been sick as often as in the past year. The drastic increase in absences from work led to a record high of 5.1% in sick leave. In the previous year it was still 3.8%. This means that in 2022, an average of 51 out of 1,000 employees were on sick leave every day of the year. The main drivers were respiratory diseases. This is the result of an analysis of the data of 570,000 employed persons with hkk insurance.
Employees sick for significantly longer
According to hkk data analysis, the number of days absent has increased significantly compared to the previous year: on average, every hkk-insured employee was ill for 18.8 days (2021: 13.9 days). Most days absent from work were caused by diseases of the respiratory system (22.1%), followed by complaints of the musculoskeletal system (16.7%) and mental illnesses (16.2%). In all previous years, musculoskeletal disorders had topped the statistics. “The immense increase can clearly be attributed to respiratory diseases,” says the head of hkk supply management, Dr. Cornelius legacy.
One reason for this increase is the easing of corona regulations and the normalization of the working world: “We now know,” says Erbe, “that measures such as keeping your distance and compulsory masks are not only effective against corona or the flu, but also to limit respiratory infections in the contribute in general.”
In addition to the common cold, however, the electronic transmission of sick leave (eAU) also contributed to the record high number of sick leave. “Thanks to the direct transmission of the sick note from the doctor to the health insurance company (eAU), no yellow note is lost and absences are recorded more completely,” explains Erbe.
Disability rate has risen sharply
The incapacity rate (AU rate) – the proportion of members who had at least one sick leave in the reference year – has risen sharply (2022: 66.8%; 2021: 41.6%). “Behind the increased absenteeism rate are employees who rarely get sick but are now absent from work due to a respiratory disease,” says Erbe.
Prevention recommendations for everyday life
The risk of contracting respiratory infections is particularly high during the cold season. Even vaccinated and recovered people can become infected. “That’s why everyone should continue to observe the rules of distance and hygiene in order to protect themselves and others,” recommends hkk prevention expert Dr. Wolfgang Ritter. At the first sign of illness, it is important to avoid contact and, if necessary, to seek medical advice at an early stage.
About hkk health insurance (commercial health insurance): With more than 900,000 insured persons (over 710,000 of them paying contributions), 14 branches and 2,100 service points, the hkk is one of the largest statutory health insurance companies. In 2022, she recorded a growth of more than 50,000 customers. With its additional contribution of 0.98 percent, it is one of the cheapest health insurance companies in Germany. The above-average benefits include more than EUR 1,000 cost coverage per insured person and year for natural medicine, preventive care and pregnancy. The advantageous price-performance ratio is made possible by a financial strength that has grown over decades and administrative costs that are more than 25 percent below the industry average. Around 1,200 employees will look after a budget volume of around 3.7 billion euros in 2023. Health insurance accounts for around 2.9 billion euros of this. The volume of benefit expenditure is 2.7 billion euros (+ 11.5 percent).
Press contact:
hkk health insurance (commercial health insurance), Martinistr. 26, 28195 Bremen
Holm Ay Tel: 0421.3655 2075
Simone Chimm Phone: 0421.3655 1001
Ilja Mertens Tel.: 0421.3655 3177
Email: [email protected]; Internet: www.hkk.de
Original content from: hkk Krankenkasse, transmitted by news aktuell
