Overview

• The Federal Association of Consumer Centers reported that many German doctors have been billing insured treatments as out-of-pocket expenses.
• Patients have raised nearly 300 complaints, particularly against dermatologists, for being charged for services like cancer screenings that should be covered by insurance.
• The misbilling often involves listing covered treatments as Individuelle Gesundheitsleistungen (IGeL), which are typically non-insured services.
• Patients frequently experience pressure to pay due to long waiting times for appointments elsewhere, highlighting a need for better protection against such practices.
• The Patient Representative of the Federal Government, Stefan Schwartze, emphasizes the need for transparent communication from doctors regarding which services are insurance-covered.