FDP MP Johannes Vogel wants to remove homeopathy as a health insurance benefit

health policy
FDP MP Johannes Vogel wants to remove homeopathy as a health insurance benefit

For a long time there has been resentment that almost all health insurance companies cover the costs of homeopathic medicines, the effectiveness of which has never been proven, but necessary services such as glasses or modern dental treatment have to be paid for out of pocket. The FDP politician Johannes Vogel has now also spoken out against homeopathy as a health insurance benefit.

Especially since the health insurance companies are currently having financial problems: The contributions will probably rise shortly. You could save by ending homeopathy reimbursement, says Vogel. “Everyone should be allowed to use homeopathy, but it has been proven that it is not scientifically effective,” said the parliamentary manager of the FDP parliamentary group. “But obliging the collective of the contributors to my fund to pay for it, that’s a question that has to be on the table.”

Homeopathy does not work beyond the placebo effect

He has already received approval for the proposal from several experts and physicians: For 200 years no one has been able to provide evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathic medicine. Users experience relief only through the placebo effect – and the sugar granules, creams and juices are disproportionately expensive. There is also criticism of homeopathy because the manufacturing companies deliberately falsely advertise their products as natural remedies.

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But there is a huge difference here that many patients are not aware of: real natural remedies contain enough active ingredients to actually help. Arnica cream is a good example here. In homeopathic remedies, on the other hand, there is so little active ingredient that an effect is practically impossible. However, it is often not immediately apparent on the packaging of a product that it is a homeopathic and therefore ineffective remedy.

Homeopaths criticize the politician

As expected, there is criticism of Johannes Vogel’s proposal from homeopathy: homeopathic doctor Michaela Geiger told RTL: “The cancellation of health insurance benefits on the subject of homeopathy does not relieve the health insurance companies, because the whole area is in the per thousand range. And it just shows us again the emotional discussion about homeopathy.”

Source: RTL

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