Uni-Age Calculation

In private health insurance, premiums are traditionally based on the age at which a person enrolls: those who enroll later pay more. With bKV, this is often different. Under a “Uni-Age” pricing model, the employer pays the same premium for all insured employees—regardless of whether they are 25 or 60 years old.

Why this works in the bKV

The collective bargaining agreement makes this uniform calculation possible. The insurer does not consider the risk of each individual, but rather the age distribution of the entire insured group. The premium thus reflects the average—younger employees effectively subsidize older ones, and because the entire workforce is insured, the numbers work out for the insurer.

What This Means for Employers

• Predictability: One contribution per person—budget planning doesn't require age lists.
• Administrative Simplification: New enrollments do not affect the contribution rate, regardless of the new enrollee's age.
• Equal treatment: All employees cost the same, which simplifies communication and the benefits plan.
• There is no disadvantage for older employees in terms of access—but there is one in terms of the total contribution, which reflects the age structure.

The last point is often misunderstood: “Uni-Age” does not mean that the age structure doesn’t matter. It is factored into the calculation of the uniform contribution. A company with a high average age pays a higher uniform contribution than one with a predominantly younger workforce—but the contribution is the same for everyone.

What Happens When You Leave

If coverage is continued privately after leaving the company, the “Uni-Age” calculation no longer applies. In the individual contract, the actual age applies again, which causes the premium to rise significantly for older employees.

This point should be included in the communication regarding portability so that the transition does not begin with false expectations.

The Alternative: Age-Based Calculation

Not every plan is based on "university age." With age-based calculations, the premium per person depends on the age at enrollment. This can be more cost-effective for a very young workforce, but it makes the calculation less precise and increases administrative overhead—every new hire changes the total premium in a way that cannot be derived from the number of employees.

What to Look for When Comparing Options

• Is the rate based on university age or on age?
• How is the age distribution taken into account, and is it reassessed on a regular basis?
• What happens when there is a noticeable change in the workforce structure—for example, following a takeover?
• How does the calculation affect the premium if the policy is continued privately?

Conclusion

The Uni-Age calculation is one of the reasons why a supplementary health insurance plan can be administered so efficiently: one premium, one headcount, one amount. It eliminates age differences in administration, not in the calculation—and it ends where the group policy ends.