Pay yourself or wait a long time? Criticism of the head of statutory health insurance physicians

See a specialist faster if you pay for the appointment yourself? Because of the upcoming fee cuts, Gassen, head of statutory health insurance physicians, believes this is likely. This earned him clear criticism.

More self-payers expect appointments for money? Criticism of the head of statutory health insurance physicians As of: November 14, 2026 • 8:45 p.m

Health insurance companies and social associations have reacted angrily to the assessment by the head of statutory health insurance physicians Andreas Gassen that patients will have to pay for appointments themselves more often in the future in order to avoid long waiting times. The background is the planned reductions in fees for doctors. “Nobody can expect that the practices will simply carry on as before in view of the cuts,” Gassen told the editorial network Germany. They have “no infinite obligation to perform”.

“I assume that there will be offers for private consultations, so every appointment will be reimbursed,” explained Gassen. “People with statutory insurance who choose this option will then be treated like a private patient outside of statutory insurance, but will have to pay the costs out of their own pocket as self-payers.”

The federal government's savings program for statutory health insurance provides for extensive savings measures, including in the remuneration of doctors. According to the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, the outpatient sector is particularly badly affected, especially the departments of ENT, orthopedics, cardiology, radiology and rheumatology.

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The umbrella association of statutory health insurance companies criticized this and referred to practices' generous profits. “Here, people with statutory health insurance who need a doctor are being held hostage so that doctors can increase their fees. This is scandalous behavior,” said the deputy chairwoman of the GKV board, Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis.

The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians has the legal task of enabling the care of the sick, not making it more difficult. "Doctors in private practice receive an average of over 200,000 euros per year from their medical practices. There is no indication that this will change in the coming year."

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The German Social Association is also protesting. The scenario outlined is “highly lacking in solidarity and socially unfair,” said SoVD board chairwoman Michaela Engelmeier. It would particularly affect people with low incomes and chronically ill people who are dependent on reliable medical care.

"Those who have little money would avoid necessary doctor's visits more often, while higher earners could easily pay for their doctor's visit." This would further exacerbate the two-tier system in healthcare.

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil also criticized the scenario. Such a proposal “cannot be made with us,” he said after a discussion with around 120 members of the SPD Brandenburg in Potsdam. Statutory health insurance patients should not have to incur additional costs. He referred to the appointment guarantee agreed by the coalition for specialists who should receive statutory health insurance patients.