Health insurers told to raise fees

HEALTHCARE insurers have been told in a new decree to give full reimbursement for certain bills from doctors who charge above standard rates.

Top-up insurers are being forced to reimburse customers who visit “sector two” doctors (those allowed to charge more than the rate at which state reimbursements are based). The decree is said to be aimed at hospital doctors like surgeons, anaesthetists and obstetricians.

This is a boost for many patients on cheaper policies who do not have full cover for such dépassements.

However, insurers only have to comply if the doctor limits dépassements to 50% of the standard rate and if they agree to do 30% of medical acts at the standard rate. In return social charges levied on the doctors’ work at the standard rate will be paid from state health insurance.

Consumer bodies warn that insurers will raise premiums to cover the cost.