Those with statutory health insurance apparently have to wait longer for an appointment with a specialist. This emerges from a response from the federal government.
epd | According to the Federal Ministry of Health, people with statutory health insurance in Germany apparently have to wait longer for one Appointment with a specialist wait. According to a survey of insured persons, the waiting time for patients in specialist practices in 2024 was an average of 42 days, as can be seen from the ministry’s response to a request from the Left parliamentary group. In 2019 there were still 33 days. The Düsseldorfer was the first to hear about the Left’s request Rhenish Post reported.
The data included those insured by statutory health insurance (GKV) who waited at least one day for specialist appointments. If you count in the statistics those patients who went to the specialist practice on the same day as visited the family doctorthe average waiting time for a specialist appointment in 2024 was 36 days.
According to the ministry’s findings referred family doctors between 2020 and 2022 there were around 476,000 to 583,000 appointments with specialists; in 2023 there were around 2.54 million specialist appointments. The background to this significant increase was adjustments to the Appointment Service and Care Act, which were aimed at shortening waiting times for patients and facilitating referrals via the family doctor or the Terminservicestelle (116 117) for specialists.
Expenses for open consultation hours have increased significantly
At the same time, according to the information, the annual expenditure of the statutory health insurance companies for open consultation hours with doctors has increased. The extra-budgetary remuneration for services provided during open consultation hours will therefore rise to around 814 million euros in 2023. In 2020 it was around 291 million euros. The background is that certain doctors have to offer at least five hours per week as open consultation hours without prior appointment, it said. In return, they would receive additional money in the form of extra-budgetary compensation.
The Left in the Bundestag criticized the federal government’s health policy. “The regulations for better care and faster appointments are a non-starter. They cost those with statutory health insurance more money with poorer performance,” said the left’s spokeswoman for outpatient care, Julia-Christina Stange Rhenish Post. The federal government must “finally take action” and check how medical care “actually develops”.
Together for a free press
As a cooperative, we belong to our readers. And our journalism is not only 100% non-corporate, but also accessible free of charge. We make all articles freely available, without a paywall. Especially in these times, classifications and information must be accessible to everyone. Our readers don’t have to pay anything, but they know that critical, independent journalism doesn’t emerge from nothing. We are very grateful for that. So that we can continue to do our journalism tomorrow, we need more support. Our next goal: 50,000 – and with your participation we can do it. Set an example for the taz and for the future of our journalism. With just 5 euros you are there!
Support now