German Doctors Accused of Misbilling Insured Treatments

Consumer watchdogs reveal hundreds of cases where patients were charged for services covered by insurance.

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.