Patients can expect a rise in medical consultation fees starting December 22, 2024, following an agreement between health authorities and private practitioners. General practitioner visits will increase from €26.50 to €30, while specialist fees, including pediatrics and psychiatry, will also rise. Pediatric consultations will see incremental increases, and a new flat rate for out-of-pocket expenses has doubled to €2. Exemptions apply for certain groups, including individuals receiving state aid and pregnant women.
Upcoming Increase in Medical Consultation Prices
Patients should brace themselves for an increase in medical consultation fees, effective from December 22, 2024. This change comes as a result of an agreement between health authorities and private practitioners, which was officially released in the Journal on June 21, 2024. As part of this new arrangement, doctors will be required to restrict the number of prescriptions for medications, tests, and sick leave certificates.
Details of the Price Adjustments
As the year draws to a close, a visit to a general practitioner will see a price hike from €26.50 to €30. Specialist consultations will also be impacted, especially in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatry, medical gynecology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, as well as endocrinology. For instance, parents can expect to pay €35 for a pediatric appointment and €55 for a session with a psychiatrist.
The adjustments aim to enhance the appeal of clinical specialties that have historically seen lower income levels, according to health authorities. The goal is to address critical public health challenges more effectively.
For pediatric consultations, fees will rise for children under 2 years from €38.50 to €39, with a further increase to €40 anticipated in July 2025. For children aged 2 to under 6 years, the new rate will be €35, up from the current €33.50.
Consultations with psychiatrists, neuropsychiatrists, and neurologists will now cost €55, an increase from €51.70, with another hike to €57 slated for July 2025. Moreover, the fee for child psychiatrists will reach €75.
Coordinated appointments with medical gynecologists will see their fees jump to €37 from €33.50, with plans to increase to €40 in July 2025. Geriatric consultations will rise from €31.50 to €37, followed by a further increase to €42 in July 2025.
For dermatologists, the price for melanoma screening consultations will go up from €47.50 to €54 in December and further to €60 by July 2025.
Additionally, the flat-rate contribution, commonly known as “out-of-pocket expense,” has also doubled since May 15, 2024, now standing at €2 instead of €1. Notably, consultations with midwives, dentists, and medical auxiliaries will not be subject to this increase. Individuals benefiting from complementary health assistance, state medical aid, and pregnant women over six months or who have recently given birth will be exempt from these changes.