Who enrolls in a general practitioner model? The behavioral model of health services use and general practitioner-centered care in Germany

Since July 2009, statutory health insurance companies in Germany are obliged to offer a so-called general practitioner model. By strengthening the general practitioner??s position, these models should optimize healthcare especially for people with higher demands for health services. So far, little is known about which patients participate in the model. Our study??s aim was to describe correlates of enrollment based on the behavioral model of health services use. The data were obtained from the Robert Koch Institute??s 2006 telephone health survey. Variables influencing enrollment in the general practitioner models were determined through logistic regression models. Main indicators for enrollment were age above 60 years, lower social status, lower income status, and living in less populated areas. Insured persons with a higher demand for medical services were more often enrolled in general practitioner models. Most of them had consulted their general practitioner very frequently even before the general practitioner model was introduced.