Survey Highlights Long Wait Times for German Public Health Insurance Patients

A study reveals significant delays for specialist appointments among publicly insured patients, with calls for equal treatment in scheduling practices.

Nearly one-third of publicly insured patients in Germany report waiting over three weeks for a specialist appointment, according to a recent survey by the GKV-Spitzenverband.
While 45% of respondents were able to secure specialist appointments within a week, 31% found the wait times to be excessively long.
General practitioners' wait times were rated more favorably, with over half of patients receiving appointments within a day and only 12% expressing dissatisfaction.
The GKV-Spitzenverband criticized the prioritization of privately insured patients, calling for an end to discrimination in appointment scheduling based on insurance type.
Political parties, including SPD and Greens, have proposed reforms such as a unified 'citizens' insurance' to address disparities in healthcare access.