German Doctors’ Discontent in Medical Fees

The Pitfalls of German National Health Insurance

Very early this morning I had to take my son to an appointment with a dermatologist in Bad Homburg. He was scheduled for minor surgery to have some skin growths removed. This has become an annual ritual for us, and over the years I had learned to ignore the doctor’s unfriendliness, and occasionally even his downright rudeness. His medical job performance is good, so I could always forgive him for his lack of emotional intelligence. Well, doctors are people too and thus, I gave him the benefit of the doubt every time – he must be either overworked, have marital problems, a dysfunctional sex life, gas pains, or had just had a bad night’s sleep. His medical reputation  was more important and I could close my eyes over his general unprofessional attitude towards us Kassenpatienten (National Health Insurance patients).

This we had to deal with only three times a year – the regular check-up, the surgery, and lastly, going back for the results. OK, doctors get paid very little for national health insurance patients and on a good day, I might even feel sorry for him. This morning he confirmed my suspicion why he was rude to us: not because of personal problems, but because we are Kassenpatienten.

After his assistant strapped my son onto the declining stretcher, we waited for the doctor. After a quick greeting, he then injected his skin with something, which caused my son to have a tiny vocal reaction like a little uh, but audible. This set the doctor off, Das muss ich mir nicht anhören! (I don’t have to listen to that!). I remarked that his comment was also a bit off by saying Ihr Kommentar war aber ein bisschen daneben. I think it was the first time I had spoken up as his following response shows.

I am quoting his words:

Such a whining from a 15-year-old! I don’t have to go through that! This costs a lot of time, because I have to ask whether he is OK or not. I can’t afford to do that – this extra time spent asking means a loss of money to me.

Aha, we got to the bottom of his hostility towards us. The three seconds it took to ask my son Are you OK?, he could not charge to the health insurance company. Based on other prior experience, I had to assume that doctors got a low compensation for treating Kassenpatienten, but now I knew for sure. Another fact I learned was  that 2 Feb 2010 would definitely be the last time to see him (for the results). We can get treated disrespectfully by any other doctor, so we might as well choose one in Oberursel.

But I do wonder then, why such a doctor still accepts Kassenpatienten. Why doesn’t he just put up a silver plaque stating Nur für Privatpatienten (Only for private patients)? I have seen a plaque like this before, so I know he can choose to do so. Would he lose something else besides the lowly fee he makes on us?

This was not the first rude doctor I encountered with such frustrations in regards to inadequate compensation. He was just simply the worst. Assuming I will be on national health insurance for the rest of my life, I need to learn more about the German doctors’ discontent as I might be in their hands for another 20 or 30 years.

Therefore, – to be continued.