Millions of Germans with statutory health insurance are facing lengthy waits to secure appointments with specialists. This has prompted calls from health experts and politicians for a binding appointment guarantee – and an end to preferential treatment for privately insured patients.
Long Waits for Specialist Care
According to a survey by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, one in four statutorily insured individuals waits more than 30 days for an appointment with a specialist. Thirty percent of those surveyed consider the wait time to be too long.
Statutory health insurance funds are calling for legislative intervention. A coalition government is promising to accelerate appointment scheduling with a mandatory referral from a general practitioner. The German Patient Protection Foundation is demanding that the “physician associations lobby” be relieved of sole responsibility for ensuring access to doctors.
Disparities in Access
The survey data reveals significant disparities in access to care. Only half of respondents are able to see a requested specialist within ten days. Thirty percent reported difficulty securing a specialist appointment, rising to 35 percent among those with poor health.
Wait times at general practitioner offices are comparatively shorter, with 25 percent waiting more than three days. A quarter of patients visit their general practitioner without an appointment. 51 percent of patients find wait times at general practitioner offices “exactly to my liking,” while 35 percent find them “still acceptable” and 14 percent are dissatisfied. However, 30 percent of those surveyed find wait times at specialist offices “too long” or “far too long.”
Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis, a vice president of the statutory health insurance funds, stated there is an “urgent need for action” regarding specialist appointments. She noted patients desire care that is compatible with modern life and work, and also called for flexible practice hours.
Stoff-Ahnis also argued, “Anyone who wants genuine equal treatment should ensure that it is no longer permissible to ask whether someone is statutorily or privately insured when scheduling appointments.” She stated that this practice – where privately insured patients often receive faster appointments – is common in many practices.
Potential Solutions and Next Steps
The German Patient Protection Foundation has suggested that contracted practices should be accessible 25 hours per week through online portals, email, fax, and telephone. The foundation’s board member, Eugen Brysch, pointed out that around 20 percent of individuals over 65 lack digital access and must be able to reach practices through traditional methods. Brysch also criticized the physician associations for failing to adequately monitor the situation, suggesting that state governments should play a greater role in oversight.
A daily updated online portal, regulated by law, has been proposed by the statutory health insurance association. This would require practices to allocate a specific portion of their time to appointments for statutorily insured patients.
Andreas Philippi, the Health Minister of Lower Saxony, supports the coalition’s plans for faster specialist appointments, which include requiring patients to first consult a general practitioner. “Our goal is for general and pediatric practitioners to better manage patient flows and refer them to specialists – with a guarantee of getting a specialist appointment within four weeks,” Philippi stated. “If it takes longer than four weeks, patients should receive an appointment at a hospital.” He also suggested that doctors provide chronic patients with annual prescriptions to avoid unnecessary quarterly visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of statutorily insured patients wait longer than 30 days for a specialist appointment?
One in four statutorily insured patients waits longer than 30 days for a specialist appointment, according to a survey by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds.
Is there a difference in wait times between general practitioners and specialists?
Yes. 25 percent of patients wait more than three days for an appointment with a general practitioner, while 30 percent of patients find wait times at specialist offices to be “too long” or “far too long.”
What is being proposed to address the issue of differing treatment based on insurance status?
Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis has suggested that it should no longer be permissible to ask patients whether they are statutorily or privately insured when scheduling appointments.
As policymakers consider these proposals, it remains to be seen whether a binding appointment guarantee and equitable access to specialist care can be achieved. Will these proposed changes effectively reduce wait times and ensure fair treatment for all patients?
