Doctor's appointments: Statutory health insurance doctors warn of longer waiting times due to reform
Quick Look
- The chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, Andreas Gassen, warns that those with statutory health insurance will have even longer waiting times for doctor's appointments in the future due to the federal reform of outpatient care.
- He criticizes the cuts in funding and the introduction of fixed appointment registration quotas, which, according to him, reduce the availability of appointments and exacerbate the two-tier system in the healthcare system.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
People with statutory health insurance in Germany already experience long waiting times for doctor's appointments. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians criticizes the federal reform, which cuts funds for outpatient care and introduces a fixed appointment reporting requirement, which, according to the KBV, further reduces the availability of appointments.
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Statutory health insurance doctors warn that patients will have to wait even longer for appointments
From next year onwards, those with statutory health insurance will have to wait even longer until they get an appointment, warns Gassen, head of the statutory health insurance scheme. He cites the reform of the federal government as the reason.
October 20, 2026, 6:47 a.m
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The waiting times for doctor's appointments for those with statutory health insurance will continue to increase in the next few months.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- How many appointments exactly will be canceled as a result of the reform?
- What specific alternatives does the KBV suggest to improve appointment availability?
- How do the regional associations of health and substitute insurance companies react to the KBV's criticism?
