The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians is demanding that health insurance companies pay fines to patients who do not use appointments without an excuse. “It is not only annoying when patients book appointments in practices and simply let them pass. Practices cannot make appointments twice. It would be appropriate for health insurance companies to pay a cancellation fee if their insured persons make appointments and then do not show up without an excuse,” said KBV chairman Andreas Gassen to “Bild”.
According to the newspaper, there are now doctors’ practices charging patients a 40 euro penalty fee for unexcused absences. Gassen defended the doctors and stressed that the appointments were blocked and were then not available for other patients. Against this background, the KBV boss called demands for more and faster appointments “ridiculous”.
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