Latest news with #DAK
Local Germany
14-04-2025
- Health
- Local Germany
German health insurance boss warns of 'massive' contributions hike
"If further action is not taken, a contribution tsunami is inevitable with this coalition agreement," Andreas Strom, the CEO of DAK-Gesundheit, told the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper on Sunday. Back in January, long-term care insurance ( Pflegeversicherung ) contributions rose to 3.6 percent, while the recommended ceiling for additional health insurance contributions was raised from 1.8 percent to 2.5 percent. According to Storm, statutory health insurance is facing another increase of at least half a percent point at the end of the year. This would mean employees pay an extra 0.25 percent - or €25 on every €1,000 earned - on their health insurance contributions each month. "In conjunction with rising long-term care insurance contributions, we are then moving towards total social security contributions of 43 percent," the DAK CEO explained. "This is not only an imposition on insured employees, pensioners, and employers, it is also poison for the economy." According to Storm, the CDU/CSU and SPD - who are due to form a government in May - have failed to set out adequate funding for Germany's financially strained insurance funds. READ ALSO: How Germany's new coalition will affect your bank balance "All concrete measures mentioned in the drafts that could have ensured the goal of stable social security contributions in the short term were deleted from the final coalition agreement," he said. Advertisement In previous plans drafted by the parties, a total of €20 billion was earmarked in order to cover "non-insurance costs" for health insurance, including care for the unemployed and Covid-related backlogs. In addition, around €9 billion was earmarked for the long-term care insurance funds. These "urgently needed funds" were deleted without replacement in the final version of the coalition agreement, Strom said. With reporting by Imogen Goodman
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sick days due to depression up 50% among German workers, report finds
The number of sick days taken by workers in Germany due to depression rose by around 50% last year, figures from a leading health insurance company have showed. The mental health report by DAK-Gesundheit, released on Sunday, said there were 183 sick days due to depression for every 100 employees the company insured in 2024, up from 122 days in the previous year. Sick days due to mental health rose from 323 to 342 per 100 employees, the figures showed, with workers in child care and elderly care work particularly affected. "The high number of mental illnesses is often associated with long absences and stigmatization for the affected employees and their employers," said DAK chief executive Andreas Storm. "We can no longer close our eyes, because mental health is a key success factor for a resilient society and for Germany as a strong business location." Storm called for increased awareness of the causes and taboo-free information on depression and anxiety disorders as well as support services to strengthen mental health. All age groups are affected by the rise in depression. The figures for younger people have been gradually increasing for several years, while there was a sharp rise in the older age groups in 2024. According to the DAK figures, the average duration of sick leave due to mental illness in 2024 was just under 33 days, slightly above the previous year's level. DAK-Gesundheit is one of the largest statutory health insurance companies in Germany. The mental health report was conducted using the anonymized data of 2.42 million DAK-insured employees, with the help of the IGES Institute in Berlin.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Canterbury: Double amputee scales highest summit outside Asia
A Gurkha veteran who lost both legs serving in Afghanistan has set a new record becoming the first double above-knee (DAK) amputee to summit the highest peak outside of Budha Magar, from Canterbury, made history when he reached the summit of Mount Everest in 2023, becoming the first DAK amputee to attempt and complete this has now set another world first after making it to the top of the 6,961m (22,837ft) Mount Aconcagua, in the Andes mountain range in Argentina, on Budha Magar, who is aiming to climb the highest peak in each of the seven continents by the end of the year, said completing this challenge had given him the confidence to finish the final two. Speaking at Plaza de Mulas base camp at Mount Aconcagua, Mr Budha Magar said: "I'm very pleased that we made it."The father-of-three set out with his team from Mendoza, Argentina, on 9 February, completing the challenge in under two weeks. Mr Budha Magar joined the Royal Gurkha Rifles at the age of 19. While serving in Afghanistan he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and lost both legs in 2010, aged was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours for services to disability awareness last year."I'm trying to do my bit to give some hope and optimism to the people with disabilities or people who are feeling low," he said."I'm trying to raise awareness of disability all around the world, because disabled people can do anything." For his Seven Summits challenge he has already climbed Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, Mount Everest the highest peak in the world, Mount McKinley, the highest mountain peak in North America, and now Mount this year, he will take on Puncak Jaya in Indonesia, and Mount Vinson, Antarctica, to complete his challenge."After summiting the second highest mountain [out of the Seven Summits challenge peaks], I think this will give me more confidence to complete the other two I have left," he said.
