Health · Healthcare & Policy · 8 hrs ago
Doctors’ group warns of longer waits and more self-paid appointments in Germany
Germany’s doctors’ association warns that publicly insured patients may face longer waits and more costs to get appointments.
The warning comes as the government’s savings plan for statutory health insurance cuts doctors’ fees.
Andreas Gassen, head of the association, says practices may offer more private appointments, where patients pay the full cost themselves.
He says waits could grow in ear, nose and throat medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, radiology and rheumatology.
If a practice’s payment budget runs out, patients may have to wait until the next quarter for an appointment there, he says.
The statutory health insurers reject the doctors’ warning, accusing the association of using patients to press for higher fees.
The dispute is about how the fee cuts may affect access to care, but no further decision or next step is stated.
Germany’s National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians says patients may face longer waits or pay out of pocket for faster specialist appointments after planned cuts to doctors’ fees.
Association head Andreas Gassen expects more practices to offer appointments in private consultations, where each appointment is paid.
He says cuts could reduce appointment availability in ear, nose and throat medicine, orthopaedics, cardiology, radiology and rheumatology.
The statutory health insurers’ association rejects Gassen’s warning, while the Social Democratic Party leader opposes extra costs for patients.
The planned cuts are part of the government’s savings programme for statutory health insurance.
- Who
- Andreas Gassen, head of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, warned about possible changes. Insurers and political figures criticised the prospect.
- What
- Patients covered by statutory insurance may face longer waits or pay out of pocket for appointments in private consultations.
- When
- The reports were published on 14 November 2026.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- The government’s savings programme includes cuts to doctors’ fees, which Gassen says could limit treatment funded by the existing budget.
National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians
Statutory health insurers and critics of extra patient charges
Responsibility
National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians
Gassen says practices cannot be expected to continue as before after fee cuts and have no unlimited duty to provide services.
Statutory health insurers and critics of extra patient charges
The insurers’ association says the physicians’ body has a legal duty to make care available, not harder to access.
Effects on patients
National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians
Gassen warns that patients in some specialties may have to wait until the next quarter once a practice’s budget is used up.
Statutory health insurers and critics of extra patient charges
The Social Democratic Party leader says statutory-insurance patients should not face additional costs; the Social Association of Germany says the scenario would hurt people with low incomes and chronic illnesses.
Gassen warned that fee cuts could lead to more paid private-consultation appointments and longer waits for some patients.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil rejected additional costs for patients covered by statutory insurance.
The statutory health insurers’ association criticised Gassen’s warning, and the Social Association of Germany also protested.
- Fee cuts
- €3 billion, according to Gassen
- Possible affected specialties
- Ear, nose and throat medicine; orthopaedics; cardiology; radiology; rheumatology
- Potential wait
- Until the next quarter if a practice’s budget is used up
- Possible revenue loss
- 25% for some medical groups, according to Gassen
- Date of reports
- 14 November 2026
4 sources
What people are saying
I expect there will be offers in private consultations, because every appointment is paid.
No one can expect practices to simply carry on as before in the face of the cuts.
Here, people with statutory insurance who need a doctor are being taken hostage so that doctors can increase their fees.
I was able to make clear that such a proposal is not something we can accept.