Vorsorgekasse Hoesch

Vorsorgekasse Hoesch (VKH) is a German mutual insurance association (Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit, VVaG) headquartered in Dortmund that specialises in funeral-expense insurance (Sterbegeldversicherung). It traces its origins to spring 1923, when workers of the Hoesch iron and steel works on the Dortmund Westfalenhütte founded a 'Sterbegeld-Beihilfe' to help colleagues' families cover burial costs at a time when neither the state nor the employer provided such benefits. From an initial solidarity fund in which each member paid one Reichsmark to a deceased colleague's family, the fund grew steadily, was placed under municipal insurance supervision in the 1930s, converted into a mutual insurance association in 1957, and expanded across the Hoesch group in 1970. It adopted its present name in 1983 and opened to people outside the Hoesch group in 1988, becoming one of Germany's two largest Sterbekassen. Today VKH serves roughly 100,000 to 112,000 members and describes itself as one of the largest funeral-expense insurers in Germany. Its core product is the Sterbegeldversicherung, a funeral-expense life insurance that pays a lump sum to surviving relatives to cover burial costs. The association emphasises low premiums, annual surplus participation returned to members, flexible tariffs, and simple online or postal enrolment, including acceptance without a health examination up to age 70. Since 1996 it has also offered a life insurance product alongside funeral-expense cover. As a mutual, VKH is owned by its policyholders, who automatically become members of the association; a members' representative assembly elects the supervisory board, which in turn appoints the management board (Vorstand). VKH has grown both organically and through numerous mergers and portfolio transfers of smaller German Sterbekassen and funeral-benefit associations, particularly since the 1990s. It has received repeated recognition as a leading funeral-expense insurer in independent customer-rating awards, including multiple BankingCheck & eKomi Awards. The association positions itself on tradition, solidarity, security and value for members, and continues to operate as a specialised niche insurer competing with large life insurers in the German funeral-provision market.

Vorsorgekasse Hoesch was founded in spring 1923 as the 'Sterbegeld-Beihilfe' by men of the machine department of the blast furnace at the Dortmund Westfalenhütte, part of the Hoesch iron and steel works. The founding took place in a turbulent period: Germany and especially the Ruhr region were experiencing hyperinflation and the French occupation of the Ruhr. The workers wanted to ease the financial distress of colleagues' families after a death, since neither the state's Bismarckian social legislation nor the company provided a death benefit sufficient for a dignified burial. By 1924 the fund had 300 members, each of whom paid one Reichsmark to the family when a colleague died. In 1936, following a request by the city administration and initially against strong protests from the workforce, the Sterbegeld-Beihilfe was placed under the authority of the Dortmund municipal insurance office. This gave it legal capacity for the first time and replaced the pay-as-you-go (Umlage) system with benefits calculated on actuarial principles. After the Second World War the fund grew substantially and came under the federal insurance supervisory authority in Berlin, accompanied by a name change to 'Sterbegeld-Beihilfe der Belegschaft der Hoesch Westfalenhütte AG'. The 1966 merger of Dortmund-Hörder Hüttenunion with Hoesch AG caused another rapid rise in membership; the fund's scope was extended to the entire workforce of the Phoenix and Union works, reaching 10,000 members, and contributions could henceforth be deducted directly from salaries. Three years later the Sterbekasse offered its benefits throughout the Hoesch group. From 1 January 1970 it introduced 'Kindermitversicherung' (child co-insurance) at a monthly premium of 0.10 DM with a sum insured of 1,000 DM. Membership, assets and benefits continued to climb. In 1983 the Sterbekasse adopted its current name, 'Vorsorgekasse Hoesch' (VKH). In 1988 it opened to people outside the Hoesch group, transforming the small solidarity community of 1923 into one of Germany's largest Sterbekassen, with membership later reaching around 110,000. Surpluses are returned to policyholders as profit additions and bonus increases. Since 1996 VKH has offered life insurance in addition to funeral-expense insurance, adapting from a works-based fund to a generally accessible provident fund. VKH has also grown through numerous mergers and portfolio transfers since 1995. These include the Wohlfahrts-Sterbekasse Grüne (1 January 1995), Verein Treuer Nachbarn (1 January 1998), Begräbnis-Beihilfe Sprockhövel (1 January 1998), Sterbegeld-Selbsthilfe (1 January 1999), Sterbekasse Henrichshütte (1 January 1999), Sterbekasse der Eisenwerk Rothe Erde (1 January 1999), Sterbeunterstützungskasse Mülheim-Ruhr-Heißen (1 January 1999), Allgem. Sterbekasse 'Selbsthülfe' Schwerte (Ruhr) (1 January 2000), Sterbekasse Hinterbliebenenhilfe Krupp VVaG Essen (1 January 2000), Bestattungsverein Hamburg-Harburg von 1923 (1 January 2001) and Sterbegeld-Beihilfe der Belegsch. der DAB VVaG (1 January 2001). In September 2004 the Sterbekasse Henkel with its 19,000 members was merged into VKH retroactively to 1 January 2004. In 2006 the portfolio of the Sterbekasse der BKK Chemie Partner was taken over retroactively to 1 January 2005, and to 1 January 2007 the portfolios of the Sterbekasse der Werksanhörigen der DK Recycling und Roheisen and UK Geisweid were acquired. In December 2011 BaFin approved the merger of Allgemeine Sterbekasse Essen, retroactive to 1 January 2011. On 31 August 2012 BaFin approved the merger of Justiz-Versicherungskasse Lebensversicherungsverein a.G. with 5,200 members, retroactive to 1 January 2012. On 19 December 2013 BaFin approved the transfer of the portfolios of Sterbekasse Thyssen Draht; on 15 December 2014 the transfer of Oberbarmer Sterbekasse 'Einheit' VVaG; on 16 December 2016 the transfer of the entire portfolio of Begräbnishilfe Dortmund-Bövinghausen V.V.a.G.; in December 2017 the transfer of the entire insurance portfolio of Versicherungsverein aG Witten; and in December 2018 the transfer of the portfolio of Sterbekasse 'Hilfe am Grabe Freudenberg' VVaG. Today VKH is a modern, adaptable Sterbekasse that competes with large life insurers. It reports around 100,000 to 112,000 members and describes itself as one of the largest funeral-expense insurers in Germany. It has received repeated independent customer awards, including eight BankingCheck & eKomi Awards as best funeral-expense insurer.

• 2018

  BaFin approves transfer of Sterbekasse 'Hilfe am Grabe Freudenberg' VVaG portfolio in December.

• 2017

  Transfer of the entire insurance portfolio of Versicherungsverein aG Witten in December.

• 2016

  BaFin approves transfer of the entire portfolio of Begräbnishilfe Dortmund-Bövinghausen V.V.a.G. on 16 December.

• 2014

  BaFin approves transfer of Oberbarmer Sterbekasse 'Einheit' VVaG portfolios on 15 December.

• 2013

  BaFin approves transfer of Sterbekasse Thyssen Draht portfolios on 19 December.

• 2012

  BaFin approves merger of Justiz-Versicherungskasse Lebensversicherungsverein a.G. with 5,200 members on 31 August, retroactive to 1 January 2012.

• 2011

  BaFin approves merger of Allgemeine Sterbekasse Essen in December, retroactive to 1 January 2011.

• 2007

  Portfolios of Sterbekasse der Werksanhörigen der DK Recycling und Roheisen and UK Geisweid are acquired, retroactive to 1 January 2007.

• 2006

  Portfolio of Sterbekasse der BKK Chemie Partner is taken over, retroactive to 1 January 2005.

• 2004

  Sterbekasse Henkel with 19,000 members is merged into VKH in September, retroactive to 1 January 2004.

• 2001

  Mergers with Bestattungsverein Hamburg-Harburg von 1923 and Sterbegeld-Beihilfe der Belegsch. der DAB VVaG on 1 January.

• 2000

  Mergers with Allgem. Sterbekasse 'Selbsthülfe' Schwerte (Ruhr) and Sterbekasse Hinterbliebenenhilfe Krupp VVaG Essen on 1 January.

• 1999

  Mergers with Sterbegeld-Selbsthilfe, Sterbekasse Henrichshütte, Sterbekasse der Eisenwerk Rothe Erde and Sterbeunterstützungskasse Mülheim-Ruhr-Heißen on 1 January.

• 1998

  Mergers with Verein Treuer Nachbarn and Begräbnis-Beihilfe Sprockhövel on 1 January.

• 1996

  VKH begins offering life insurance alongside funeral-expense insurance.

• 1995

  Merger with Wohlfahrts-Sterbekasse Grüne on 1 January.

• 1988

  VKH opens to people outside the Hoesch group, becoming one of Germany's largest Sterbekassen.

• 1983

  The Sterbekasse adopts its current name, 'Vorsorgekasse Hoesch' (VKH).

• 1970

  Benefits are offered throughout the Hoesch group; child co-insurance is introduced on 1 January.

• 1966

  Merger of Dortmund-Hörder Hüttenunion with Hoesch AG extends the fund to the Phoenix and Union works, reaching 10,000 members.

• 1957

  The fund converts into a Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (mutual insurance association) under federal supervision.

• 1936

  The Sterbegeld-Beihilfe is placed under the Dortmund municipal insurance office, gaining legal capacity and actuarial funding.

• 1924

  The fund has 300 members, each paying one Reichsmark to a deceased colleague's family.

• 1923

  Workers of the Hoesch Westfalenhütte blast furnace machine department found the 'Sterbegeld-Beihilfe' in spring.

Specialised mutual funeral-expense insurer emphasising tradition, solidarity, low premiums, high benefits and member ownership.

• Sterbegeldversicherung (funeral-expense insurance)

  Core product paying a lump sum to surviving relatives to cover burial costs, with flexible tariffs, annual surplus participation, and acceptance without health examination up to age 70.

• Lebensversicherung (life insurance)

  Offered since 1996 alongside funeral-expense insurance.

• Kindermitversicherung (child co-insurance)

  Historical product introduced on 1 January 1970 at a monthly premium of 0.10 DM with a sum insured of 1,000 DM.

1. 1VKH-Sterbegeldversicherung - Ihre vertrauenswürdige Sterbegeldversicherung seit 1923vkh-online.de
2. 2VKH-Sterbegeldversicherung - Über unsvkh-online.de
3. 3VKH-Sterbegeldversicherung - Ausgezeichnetvkh-online.de
4. 4VKH-Sterbegeldversicherung - 100 Jahre VKHvkh-online.de
5. 5Vorsorgekasse Hoeschde.wikipedia.org
6. 6Vorsorgekasse Hoeschwikidata.org