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German Medical Leaders Urge New Patient Fees and Digital Triage to Shore Up Health Insurance

The proposals arrive ahead of a commission-led overhaul focused on cost control to stabilize contributions.

Overview

  • Andreas Gassen of the KBV proposes a contact fee of about €3 to €4 per doctor visit, collected by statutory insurers and designed to be socially adjusted.
  • KBV also calls for a digital Ärzte-Lotse linked to the 116 117 service to coordinate care and cut duplicate consultations.
  • Hospital association chief Gerald Gaß urges doubling inpatient copayments from €10 to €20 per day, a change reported to yield roughly €800 million annually for insurers.
  • Gaß also proposes a €30 to €40 charge for patients who use hospital emergency centers without prior telephone assessment.
  • The federal government has set up an expert commission to present stabilization options by March for measures starting in 2027, with broader reform proposals due by the end of 2026.