($3,200) Patients paying out-of-pocket for medical services often get faster appointments than those with private healthcare subscriptions, according to an investigation by financial news outlet money.pl.
Subscription vs. Commercial Services:
While private medical packages were supposed to reduce wait times, money.pl found that patients paying for single visits often get quicker service than those with subscriptions.
Work of Infoline Staff:
An anonymous employee of a major network revealed the internal policy of differential access: “There’s a clear distinction between patients…”
Cash Over Contracts:
Even when appointments are available, they are often denied to subscribers while offered to cash-paying customers. This has led to tensions particularly when one household member has a subscription while another does not.
Systemic Issues:
Sources from the network suggest the issues are systemic: shortages of medical staff, backlog of pandemic-era needs, and increased demand for expensive imaging tests. They imply that price hikes may be necessary to address these challenges further.
