Accidentally paying two insurance policies

[MrWilly 0]

Hello Friends,

 

I am facing a situation that is largely my fault for being an ignorant Canadian that is used to health insurance being automatic. The story is that I was originally covered as a student here in Germny with AOK. I turned 30 and they wanted to raise my premiums much too high, so I switched to a much more affordable student plan through Mawista. I began working for a research firm to write my thesis and have continued working there under HiWi status for the past 8 months. I had no idea that my employer automatically signed me up again for the social coverage once I was no longer a student. I didn't thoroughly examine my pay stub to see that there was a 92 Euro debit under a KV abbreviation. It turns out that because I earn between 450 and 4000 Euro per month that I need this social health insurance anyhow. So, I am now wondering if there is anyway to try to retrieve my funds from the private insurer, Mawista, without having to rely upon an act of kindness. In the end, this is close to 500 Euro.

 

Any advice is very much appreciated!

 

Cheers,

Mr Willy

[topcat 1 373]

I very much doubt that the private insurer will refund your premium but you have nothing to lose by calling them and asking if they will. I also think they are much better placed to advise you than anyone here can.

 

On a slightly humorous aside, my first thought earlier today was how could someone doing a thesis not work this out for themselves :)

[john g. 35,711]

Hmm, topcat, also on a slightly humourous aside...I´m a technologically ignorant over-60 type..now, a couple of days ago, I asked a 28 year old software engineer to send a fax. His reply? How do you send a fax?

 

Generational t hing, yo. Even I can send a fax on a good day (ok, on a good day )!!!

 

McWilly:if you are an employee earning what you say, you must have public insurance. Ask your employer or friends to help you with the German but you need to write to the private insurer Mawista that their insurance is not " fit for purpose " as you have to be publicly insured. Hopefully, you´ll get your money back..

I am a professional independent insurance broker and authorised advertiser. Contact me.

[topcat 1 373]

John,

 

I gave you a green by mistake. I am never quite sure what all these buttons are for.

 

Since coming back on TT after a long sabbatical I have tried to resist being sarcastic but it looks as if I am succumbing to my inner demons. Amazing what one Weiss beer can do to you when you have passed the fifty landmark.

[john g. 35,711]

I like mistakes, topcat 1!!

 

Edit: smiley by mistake!!!

I am a professional independent insurance broker and authorised advertiser. Contact me.

[MrWilly 0]

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for the responses.

 

I have already contacted the private insurer already and the plan won't go beyond this month, but he seems to be avoiding the plea for having my money refunded. I assumed this would happen, so I posted here to see there are any other means at my disposal for retrieving the money if he does simply ignore my pleas. I am going to go into AOK tomorrow to ask there too.

 

As far as how a guy writing his thesis could let this happen: again, I admit this is mostly my fault, but at the same time it is beyond me that I could be signed up for public insurance through my employer without ever having to sign something, or at the least being informed. Let alone that private policies are only valid under certain working conditions - paying more through the public umbrella because I don't earn enough seems a little backwards. I am starting to realize how good we have it back in Canada, even with its drawbacks.

 

Cheers,

Chris

[topcat 1 373]

You can always try ringing the private insurer again. It is more than likely a call centre so how you are dealt with depends to a great extent on the individual you are dealing with; ring again and you may get a different person who may be more sympathetic. I have done this a few times when I had to change flight destinations and some of the staff would insist that I would be charged a fee to change and not just the price difference. I just keep ringing until I get someone who will accept just the price difference.

[MadAxeMurderer 5,997]

 

Hmm, topcat, also on a slightly humourous aside...I´m a technologically ignorant over-60 type..now, a couple of days ago, I asked a 28 year old software engineer to send a fax. His reply? How do you send a fax?

 

Generational t hing, yo. Even I can send a fax on a good day (ok, on a good day )!!!

 

Faxes are deader than telex. People scan and email now. Faxes have no legal basis while telexes do. So a fax simply has no advantage over scan and Email.

 

I suppose I could send a morse code message over a telegraph but I don't expect to be asked to. Likewise I would be surprised to be asked to send a fax. Somehow that reminds me: 30 years ago my brother was doing work experience, and there was a list of promotions. Someone had been promoted to assistant xerox operator. Photocopies. He was kinda wondering what her job was before if assistant photocopier was a promotion.

[john g. 35,711]

I get faxes every day, Mad..even from insurance companies! I´m pretty sure (though not 100%) they are legally sound as long as you keep a record of the date and time the fax went out. At least..I think so!

I am a professional independent insurance broker and authorised advertiser. Contact me.

[the.frollein 6,713]

Erm... faxes are alive and well. Try corresponding with lawyers in Germany - they lurve faxes and send in sheaves. A lot of the government offices in Africa and Asia use fax extensively too.

[MadAxeMurderer 5,997]

Mea Culpa.

 

Anyone want to buy a nice abacus? Can calculate compound interest even if power goes down. Guaranteed virus free. Never crashes

[MrWilly 0]

I've tried calling a couple of times now. THey have it logged on my file that it is now out of their hands because there is a law stating that retroactive cancellations can only be completed within the first 3 months of being signed up to the public insurance. Wouldn't give me to a supervisor and wouldn't budge. The worst.