What can I vote on in the social elections?
In the social elections, insured individuals elect the highest decision-making bodies of health, long-term care, pension, and accident insurance. For health insurance plans, this is the board of directors; for the other social insurance programs, it’s the assembly of representatives. These “insured persons’ parliaments” set the budget and elect the executive board or management. And: They decide, for example, on health insurance benefits or the quality of rehabilitation services.
The bodies include representatives of both employers and employees. This system is also known as social self-governance. German social insurance has operated this way since the 19th century.
The principle has proven its worth and is more relevant than ever: The welfare state is under pressure, and its funding is at risk—for example, in the healthcare sector. The insured members’ representatives are committed to ensuring that quality care and health services are maintained and do not fall victim to austerity measures.
When and how can I vote?
From April through mid-May 2023 , insured members will receive their election materials by mail: these include the ballot and the election envelope. The completed ballot must be mailed in the sealed envelope and received by the relevant election committee by Election Day, May 31, 2023
.Online voting: For the first time, insured individualswith alternative health insurance plans (TK, Barmer, DAK, KKH, and hkk) can also vote online. Full details are available here.
Who is eligible to vote?
All members of social insurance programs that hold primary elections are eligible to vote. For health insurance plans, members who pay premiums are eligible to vote. Those covered under family insurance are not eligible to vote.
Young people aged 16 and older may also vote if they are independently insured (for example, as an apprentice) and are not covered under family insurance.
People without a German passport may also vote in the social insurance elections. They may run for office if they are eligible to vote in elections for the German Bundestag or have lived in Germany for at least six years, habitually reside there, or are regularly employed or engaged in work there.
Note for cross-border commuters:
Voters with a residence or habitual residence outside the Federal Republic of Germany may participate in the pension insurance election only if they submit an application there. Health insurance funds also send absentee ballots abroad.
Who can I vote
for
?
The election features lists. This means that the ballot does not list individuals but rather organizations that wish to nominate candidates for the self-governing body. These are typically labor unions, but also Christian employee organizations or other groups formed by insured individuals. Starting in April 2023, the insurance providers will inform their members about the approved lists and the eligible candidates.
IG Metall is running independently in the Federal Pension Insurance, the Saarland Pension Insurance, the Techniker Krankenkasse, the Barmer GEK, DAK-Gesundheit, the Metal, Wood, and Metal Workers’ Occupational Accident Insurance Association, and the Energy, Textile, Electrical, and Media Products Occupational Accident Insurance Association. For other health insurance funds and regional pension insurance funds, IG Metall is running on joint slates organized by the German Trade Union Federation (DGB).
Is there an election at every insurance fund?
There are two procedures:
In elections involving a ballot—known as primary elections—insured members are called upon to vote.
In elections without
a ballot
,
there is
no primary election. In this case, the current representatives agree on the candidates for the next term. These are “consensus elections.” No more candidates are nominated than can be represented on the respective committee.
Where are there elections with a ballot?
The following social insurance funds will hold a primary
election
in 2023:
Who elects the employer representatives?
On the employer side, there are only so-called “consensus elections” (see above). Here, the employer associations agree on their candidates.
What do I need to do if I want to run for office?
The search for candidates for the 2023 social elections has concluded. However, anyone who would like to run as a candidate for IG Metall in the future can contact us at any time: Simply send a short email to sozialwahl@igmetall.de. Please include the following in your email: your contact information and the name of your health insurance provider. The IG Metall social policy team will then contact you to discuss the next steps.
Is the work in the self-governing body voluntary?
Yes, representing insured members is a volunteer position. The employer must grant employees time off for this activity and, if necessary, compensate them for lost wages. A meeting allowance of approximately 75 euros is paid per meeting day. Chairs receive double that amount. Travel expenses are reimbursed.
What is the voter turnout?
In the last social election (2017), 15.5 million out of a total of 51 million eligible voters cast their ballots. Social elections are still relatively unknown. Many insured individuals are unaware that they can have a say in health insurance, pension, or accident insurance matters. Those who do not vote miss out on the opportunity to help bring about concrete improvements.
