AOK Nordost warns of rising sick leave rates

AOK Nordost, the largest health insurance provider in northeastern Germany, has warned that a proposed requirement to provide medical certificates from the first day of illness could increase sick leave rates by approximately ten percent.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the sickness rate for AOK members was 7.5 percent in the first half of the year. The insurer estimates that if employees who currently recover at home for up to three days are instead required to visit a doctor immediately, the rate could rise to 8.2 percent. This projection is based on a comparison of insurance statistics with employer data from companies that only require certificates starting on the fourth day of absence.

Anke Jurchen, head of occupational health management at AOK Nordost, suggested that instead of changing certificate requirements, efforts should focus on combating long-term illnesses. Currently, long-term illnesses—defined as being sick for more than 42 days—account for approximately 40 percent of all registered sick days in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.