Germany, going to the doctor.

[admylin]

Hi, you know when you have to go to the doctor in Germany you pay 10 Euro for every 3 months just for actually visiting the doctor. There are check ups like dentist check up and going for the smear test that don't require 10 Euro praxisgebühr. I was wondering if you really don't pay to have a smear test where you are in Germany?
I have tried twice in Berlin to go just for a check up at the frauenarztin and they insited on taking 10 Euro whereas in south Germany they never did. I walked out of the docs today and said I would be looking for a doctor that knew the rules! It bugs me to have to pay when I'm not ill and I never go to the doctor except for my pill and the check up. It's not as much the money, more the principle idea that the health insurance didn't want to take money for these check ups as it would put alot of women off going for them. Was I being unreasonable? I was having a bad day anyway and having to argue with a very unfriendly doctors secretary just rounded it all off.

[foundintranslation]

you're right, admylin

[admylin]

Wow, thanks for that. I was searching for something like that all morning after getting back from the docs - soaking wet from rain and totally fed up with Berlin doctors! Must admit I haven't rang around yet but will try and see a different Frauenarztin even if I have to travel further, today I was at one just round the corner so she would have been handy.
I wrote a sort of complaint email to AOK, our health insurance in Baden Würrtemberg and and their office in Berlin too and the Berlin office rang me this afternoon to say I was right that praxisgebühr was not required for the check up but that they knew that a lot of doctors took it anyway. Looks like I will be on the phone for quite a while finding a law abiding one!

[foundintranslation]

My old one in Kreuzberg would stick to the rules, I reckon, but I suppose Kreuzberg's too far for you?

[admylin]

No Kreuzberg is on our UBahn line but depends which part I suppose. I love walking round Kreuzberg, kids think I'm mad!

[foundintranslation]

61, in Heimstrasse (just off Bergmannstrasse/Marheinekeplatz where the Markthalle is).

[admylin]

Thanks, will ask them on the phone. Let me know if you want the list of papers they asked us for when flat hunting, it would save you some time for sure.

[SSShakeTheChi]

I didn't know that admylin. I've always just paid it but then my gynaecologist does a scan on my breasts whilst I'm there which I don't think the insurance pays, so I wouldn't be in the right to complain IYSWIM.

I called to make an appointment today for a check-up and the earliest they could give me was 21st May! I've just realised that I will probably have my period then anyway so I probably won't be able to go. He's so nice that he's very popular but it really is inconvenient to have to wait so long for an appointment.

Think I'll have a look around for someone nearer here who can give me an appointment earlier but I so hate these gynaecological things and I haven't met a nice gynaecologist before. He was the 4th one I had here.

[admylin]

Oh, I was hoping you would maybe write that you had a great one to reccomend that didn't take the Praxisgebühr. Well, I can wait now and I know how to get my pill next time I need it too (nice Hausarzt will give me a prescription if I ask nicely) so I'm OK till January next year!