>> >> Under the title “Patient Wishes”, the IKK classic, together with the FAZ Institute for Management, Market and Media Information GmbH, surveyed people with health insurance about their satisfaction with their health services. The focus of the survey was questions such as: What do patients want from those responsible in the healthcare system and the payers? What service do you expect from the practitioners and where do you see the gaps in care? 1,005 people with statutory and private insurance were surveyed in computer-assisted telephone interviews. The result reflects the attitude of the insured, which differs depending on age, state of health, but also standard of living and gender.
The study shows that the amount of the insured person's contributions plays a major role for the majority of those surveyed. 60 percent of those insured said they were willing to take part in a bonus program offered by their fund if it meant they could reduce their individual premium. 61 percent of citizens stated that they would even forego visits to the doctor for minor illnesses. However, patients' willingness to save also has its limits: a large majority rejected other suggestions to reduce their own costs, such as restricting the freedom to choose a doctor, higher co-payments or reducing insurance benefits.
“The study results show that citizens highly value the tried-and-tested system of medical care and are far more relaxed about supposedly explosive issues such as waiting times or undersupply than the public debate occasionally suggests,” concludes Gerd Ludwig, Chairman of the Board of Directors

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