IGeL services for medical treatment not always necessary
Already since the year 1998 there is the IGeL list for individual health services in the medical supply. It was issued by the Free Medical Associations and the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung. Of the top associations of health insurance, however, it is seen critically.
The costs for IGeL services must be paid by the patient himself according to the prescription of a treating physician. For this reason, it is important to question exactly why the health insurance does not pay.
In this context, it is often criticized that such a service is not absolutely necessary and may also burden the patient financially under certain circumstances.
Therefore, I think it makes very sense, before agreeing to the treatment, to seek a second opinion from a doctor in the relevant department, if a statement from the doctor does not seem very appropriate.
IGeL services are offered in almost all medical areas and the costs of these treatments can be looked up on the internet.
In connection with these treatments, I find it important to have a good doctor-patient relationship, ie a practitioner who takes the time to clarify the benefits or possible risks of an intended IGeL performance and to answer all questions of the patient.
Personally, I would not be quick to agree to such a treatment because I do not want to incur any additional costs in the context of my medical care, since cash contributions and medicines can be incurred over the course of a year at sometimes very high costs.
