ÖGK in crisis: Patients complain about chaos in sick leave!

ÖGK in crisis: Patients complain about chaos in sick leave!

A real outcry from the Vienna Chamber of Labor can be heard today: There is a real “execution chaos” at the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), which is increasingly causing dissatisfaction. According to a report by the AK, the number of interventions in which the AK's lawyers intervene on behalf of the insured have almost doubled in the last two years. In the first half of 2022 there were 75 submitted interventions, while in the same period of 2023 there were already 126. People with mental illnesses, cancer patients and people with orthopedic complaints or Long Covid are particularly affected. These alarming figures paint a picture of serious problems in health management, which the AK is now clearly denouncing, as is the case The press reported.

Sick pay and sudden terminations of sick leave

A common problem is the extremely short-term write-offs of sick leave. Many insured people are only informed about the end of their sick pay shortly in advance, which leads to an enormous additional burden. Those affected often have to submit medical reports within a few days to clarify their illness status. This becomes an insurmountable challenge, as short-term appointments with specialists are often difficult to obtain. The AK speaks of a clear failure of the ÖGK, which is particularly suffering from the merger of health insurance companies. Wolfgang Panhölzl, head of the social insurance department, criticizes the fact that the merger of the regional health insurance companies has not brought the hoped-for advantages for the insured and that the quality of care has fallen dramatically.

In this context, a press conference by the AK is also expected on February 18th, at which further insights into the most pressing problems facing employees and consumers will be provided. Renate Anderl, President of the AK, will present concrete figures and information showing how much money was secured for members. She points to the challenges that workers are currently facing and wants to make it clear that the AK must act effectively for its nation, which relies on around four million people. Those interested can also follow the press conference via live stream, like this APA OTS addresses.