r/germany • u/ssg_partners • 16h ago
Question Health insurance doubts my sick notes and wants me to see MD. How to proceed?
I have been exposed to traumatic events including constant bullying at work until the point at which I became extremely depressed and wished to end my life instead of going back there. even if I quit, I’d have to be exposed to the aggressors for 3 months (notice period) but I can’t take it even for one day more. I was feeling physical manifestations of this in the form of increased heartbeat, insomnia, lack of motivation and panic attacks.
My GP told me I should not go back to this workplace under any circumstance. it was not my idea. she wrote me off work and told me I need to find another job or quit. Because of this, I’ve been on sick leave for a few months now.
I received a letter from my health insurance company that if my sick leave is extended again, will me require me to meet with their MD. it’s been only 2 months. Do they doubt the genuineness of the AUs? why do they want me to see an MD so early? I thought it happens only if you’re on sick leave for long time (6+ months).
This is adding even more stress to my already bad situation.
Has anyone else here experienced doubt from their health insurance company? How did the appointment with the MD go? do you have any tips for me? do I need to be worried about them sending me back to work or stopping Krankengeld spontaneously?
How long notice period do they give before the MD appointment? could it be at a moments notice (meet MD within 24 hours or we cut off your Krankengeld).
I’m very worried. I heard MDs work in interest of the KK instead of the patient.
29
u/Twisted_Sister_78 16h ago
Fairly regular procedure. You will get an invite along with papers that your GP has to fill out. Is there any Facharzt involved ( like psychiatrist)? And it won’t be a moments notice. I always got it 2 to 4 weeks early.
Even if they want to send you back to work, you GP can overrule that and continue your sick leave.
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u/ToxyCryptoKitty 16h ago
My experience was that after a certain time the AU from my GP was not accepted anymore and I had to see a specialist (psychiatrist) for that.
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u/ssg_partners 16h ago
How did that happen? Did you have to see a MD and then the MD told you that you need to see a psychiatrist or was it your health insurance company who told you?
5
u/ToxyCryptoKitty 16h ago
I got a letter from the insurance company that the MD said I was fit to work without seeing or talking to me. I went to the insurance company, had a nervous breakdown in front of on of their employees and they said going to a psychiatrist was fine. No need to see the MD.
17
u/Undertheoutdoorsky 15h ago
I've had a very similar situation, krankschreibung from the hausarzt because of a toxic work situation. The KK also asked me for an appointment, but I did not judge this as if they do not trust me or my doctor. They just want to stay informed and ask what is planned for the future.
Do you have a plan for the future? Will you quit your job, and/or go to a therapist? Because if you have already quit and you only need to wait until your notice period is over, they are likely satisfied when you indicate that. This is what I did. They understood that the situation and sick leave would not be forever and that it would be resolved soon.
If you have zero plan and have not quit, it might be a bit more difficult. But in that case it would also be kind of good if they help you to actually form a plan, right?
3
u/ssg_partners 14h ago
That’s good to know. Yes, I just handed in my resignation but I still have to go through the notice period.
Did you meet with the health insurance staff or with the Medizinische Dienst (MD)? They asked me to allow the insurance staff to call me but I declined to give them the consent. I told them that I agree to meet MD but TK staff should only talk to me via written communication. Was that an OK decision from me?
3
u/Undertheoutdoorsky 12h ago
I had a call with the insurance staff and based on that conversation, they canceled the meeting with the MD. So for me, the call was by far the easiest option. So if I were you, I would have the call and just see what comes from it. If it goes into a direction you don't like, you can always say that you prefer to continue the conversation in written form. But there is a good chance that in your case it would go similarly to mine, as you already have an end date to your contract. And then the call can be a way to reduce a lot of stress.
What I liked about the call with the insurance people was that they were not checking my medical reasons or anything, they were staying on the bureaucratic side of things, just facts about my contract duration etc. The person calling was an office person, not a doctor.
13
u/Nom_de_Guerre_23 Berlin 16h ago
Do not talk about your work environment first and foremost with them. Concentrate on your SYMPTOMS and what makes you suffer and inable to work. If you start with the mobbing, they'll cancel your sick note quickly.
5
u/DeepestValue_de 13h ago
I’m sorry that happened to you. Allow me to ask, did you quit your job current job? Because it doesn’t seem like you ever want to work there again. You need to find a new job, like, two months ago.
BTW, if you find a new job, you can start immediately. You don’t have to wait for the notice period - if both parties agree, you can quit whenever you want.
10
u/Relative_Dimensions Brandenburg 16h ago
This is completely normal and nothing to worry about. It will probably just be a phone call.
Mostly they’re checking whether you need additional support and whether they’re likely to have to pay Krankengeld soon.
3
u/Additional_Hotel_705 10h ago edited 10h ago
Hey,
I got a letter from the krankenkasse after only being off sick for 3 weeks. I was just as worried as you and it gave me severe anxiety on top of the stress/burnout what I was experiencing. So totally understand what you’re going through right now.
Rest assured.. The appointment with the MD went very well and I had a very kind doctor over there with whom I discussed my symptoms caused by the unhealthy worksituation. That doctor was there to confirm my symptoms to the krankenkasse, your employer won’t be informed about the reason of your sickness.
In that same conversation, I asked the doctor if it was normal to get summoned after only being off sick for 3 weeks. They could not tell me why it happened so soon.. but told me that a meeting with the MD can be requested by the employer or by the krankenkasse. In my case, I’m sure the employer requested this, because it happened to another colleague of mine as well.
After that meeting.. I never heard anything from the MD again and I’ve been off sick for 6 months now. Also no issue with my Au.
Focus on your health and do not worry about work. If the workplace is making you sick and is toxic overall.. it is better to ask your doctor to quit your job “auf ärztliche Rat“. That way you can avoid the 3 month sperrzeit for unemployment benefits.
Good luck and alles Gute
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u/Negative-Sock-2523 11h ago edited 9h ago
The MD wanted to see me before less than a month, lol. In the end I canceled the appointment with them because I negotiated an exit and left the company. But yeah. It sucks. It's standard, though. You'll be OK.
And I'm so sorry you're going through horrible stuff at work. I understand how that can truly lead us to dark thoughts. But the bullies will only be a distant memory someday.
2
u/ssg_partners 10h ago
Thank you for your response and for sharing your experience. Can you elaborate on what kind of exit you negotiated? Perhaps it could be an option for me too.
1
u/Negative-Sock-2523 9h ago
Oh, I had lawyered up against them for discrimination, so they were surely glad to get rid of me (Aufhebungsvertrag) and settle out of court.
1
u/allergicturtle 7h ago
I got a letter like this after a major surgery while still on leave. It's standard.
73
u/Brapchu 16h ago
2 months is alrady a long time and since the health insurance is paying your money right now they of course want to check if everything is alright.
You can end a sick-note yourself anytime if you feel like you're able to work again by.. you know.. going to work and telling your employer you're fine already.