bKV of the VRK (Church-Affiliated Insurers): Plans, Benefits, and Costs

VRK insurers affiliated with churches offer the beFIT budget plan for employer-sponsored health insurance, which is available in three plan options and three budget tiers with annual health budgets of 300, 600, or 900 euros. Unlike compact plans with fixed, individually defined benefits, the insured person receives an annual reimbursement limit from which various outpatient services can be flexibly drawn upon. The amount of the selected budget tier directly determines how generously treatments, preventive care, or supplemental benefits can be reimbursed over the course of a year.

Within the health care budget, advance payment by the statutory health insurance provider is generally a prerequisite for reimbursement of outpatient services. Therapeutic treatments such as physical therapy, massage, occupational therapy, speech therapy, manual therapy, podiatry, or nutritional therapy are reimbursed from the budget up to the maximum eligible rates, as are medically prescribed assistive devices, including rental, repair, and maintenance. For treatments by alternative practitioners and naturopathic procedures—the latter extended to the entire Hufeland directory—a combined sublimit of half the budget applies; the same rule applies collectively to preventive medical checkups and vaccinations. However, there is no general reimbursement for medications and bandages; only statutory copayments and prescriptions provided as part of naturopathic and natural healing treatments are covered.

For inpatient care, beFIT does not offer traditional optional benefits such as treatment by the chief physician or single- or double-occupancy rooms, but instead provides a daily hospital allowance of 10 euros per day without proof of expenses, up to a maximum of 280 euros per year, supplemented by a daily allowance for spa and rehabilitation treatment in the same amount, as well as a child sickness allowance in accordance with Section 45 of SGB V. Those who wish to ensure comfort during inpatient stays can opt for the separate modular plans offered by VRK. In the area of preventive care, the range of benefits extends beyond statutory programs and includes additional preventive screenings—such as for diabetes or cancer—with no age or frequency limits, as well as genetic diagnostic tests. This is supplemented by professional dental cleanings, vision aids with a sublimit, and digital services such as video consultations via TeleClinic, a specialist appointment service, and a medical hotline.

For family members, beFIT offers the option to include spouses, domestic partners, and children under the age of 21 in the plan at their own expense, with premiums scaled according to age. A practical advantage for employers is that no medical examination is required for new employees and their dependents during the first seven months, which significantly simplifies enrollment in the company health plan. If an insured person leaves the company, coverage can be continued under the beFIT plan at their own expense, with premiums based on age—starting at approximately 19.97 euros per month in Budget Level 300 for those aged 16 to 67; alternatively, the insured has the right to continue coverage under an individual insurance policy within two months, in accordance with Section 16 of the bKV-AVB.

The beFIT plan is suitable for companies that want to offer their employees a flexible health budget instead of rigid individual benefits, while placing emphasis on tiered budget amounts that can be adapted to different company budgets. External rating agencies have given the plan cautious evaluations: Morgen & Morgen assigns it a “Average” rating (3 out of 5 points), while Franke & Bornberg rates the plan as “Satisfactory”; both evaluations are from the year 2025.

• beFIT (Budget Plan): Budget tiers 300 / 600 / 900 EUR/year · 3 plan options

• Preventive screenings: Yes, statutory programs AND additional preventive care (e.g., diabetes, cancer) with no age limits or maximum limits, including genetic diagnostic tests; together with vaccinations, up to half the budget
• Alternative practitioners: Yes, outpatient treatments by alternative practitioners (excluding psychotherapy), including prescribed remedies in accordance with the GebüH; when combined with naturopathic treatments, up to half the annual budget
• Alternative medicine: Yes, provided by doctors and alternative practitioners, covering the entire Hufeland list; sublimit of half the budget when combined with alternative practitioners
• Medications and medical supplies: No, no general reimbursement; only statutory copayments and prescriptions for alternative medicine practitioners or naturopathic treatments
• Therapeutic Services: Yes, medically prescribed therapeutic services (physical therapy, massage, occupational therapy, speech therapy, manual therapy, podiatry, nutritional therapy) are covered within the budget; up to the maximum eligible rates
• Assistive Devices: Yes, medically prescribed assistive devices are covered by the budget (including rental, repair, maintenance, and guide dogs); Exclusions: Consumables, fitness/wellness items, and personal care aids
• Vaccinations: included
• Travel vaccinations: included
• Vision aids: with a sub-limit within the health care budget
• Professional teeth cleaning: included
• Daily Hospitalization Benefit: Yes, €10 per day for inpatient care without proof of expenses (max. €280 per year); additionally, a daily benefit for spa treatment and rehabilitation of €10 per day (max. €280 per year) and a daily child sickness benefit of €10 per day in accordance with §45 SGB V
• Optional hospital services: No, beFIT does not include optional hospital services; for inpatient care, only a daily hospital allowance is provided; additional coverage is available through separate VRK modular plans
• Digital Health Services: Video Consultations (Yes, TeleClinic (partnership; costs are reimbursed up to the amount covered by your plan)) · Specialist Appointment Service · Medical Hotline
• Budget Carryover: No, maximum amount per calendar year; no carryover
• Upon leaving the company: Yes, continuation on one’s own account under the beFIT plan (age-based, e.g., beFIT300: €19.97/month for ages 16–67); additionally, continuation of coverage under individual insurance within 2 months (Section 16 of the bKV General Insurance Conditions)
• Services for Family Members: Partial: Care assistance is also available if the insured person’s parents require care; no further details provided
• Family Coverage: Yes, spouses/partners and children under 21 are covered at their own expense under the beFIT plan (age-based premiums); no medical exam required for new employees and their dependents during the first 7 months

Under the beFIT plan, premiums for the supplementary health insurance (bKV) offered by VRK insurers within the church community are based on the selected budget level: Employers can choose between a health budget of 300, 600, or 900 euros per year, with a higher budget level providing a correspondingly larger reimbursement limit for outpatient services, preventive care, and supplemental benefits.

In particular, the budget includes medications, medical devices, and vision aids, as well as—each subject to a combined sublimit of half the budget—treatments by alternative practitioners and naturopathic therapies on the one hand, and additional preventive screenings and vaccinations on the other. Benefits such as daily hospital allowance, daily allowance for spa treatments and rehabilitation, and sick child allowance, however, are not included in the health budget and do not reduce it.

The health budget is set as a maximum amount per calendar year. Unused amounts expire at the end of the year; the beFIT plan does not allow for a carryover to the following year. For continued coverage after leaving the company, the sample premium for budget level 300 is 19.97 euros per month for insured individuals between the ages of 16 and 67.

• Franke & Bornberg: Adequate · 2025 — Rating
• Morgen & Morgen: Average (3/5) · 2025 — Rating