At the Doctor - Health and Emergencies

How Healthcare Works for Foreigners in Germany#

Germany has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, and understanding how it works is essential for your well-being. Health insurance (Krankenversicherung) is mandatory for everyone living in Germany — this is not optional. There are two types: gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV) (statutory/public health insurance) and private Krankenversicherung (PKV) (private health insurance). Most employees are automatically enrolled in public insurance through their employer, with contributions split roughly 50/50 between employer and employee.

Major public health insurance providers (called Krankenkassen) include AOK, TK (Techniker Krankenkasse), Barmer, DAK, and IKK. They all cover the same basic services (doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription medications, preventive care) with only minor differences in extras and customer service. To see a doctor, you simply show your Versichertenkarte (insurance card) — a plastic card similar to a credit card that you receive from your Krankenkasse. There is no need to pay upfront for most standard medical visits; the insurance covers it directly.

Finding a doctor: In Germany, you first visit a Hausarzt (general practitioner/family doctor) for most health issues. The Hausarzt then refers you to a specialist (Facharzt) if needed. Common specialists include: Zahnarzt (dentist), Augenarzt (eye doctor/ophthalmologist), HNO-Arzt (ear-nose-throat doctor), Hautarzt (dermatologist), Orthopäde (orthopedist), Gynäkologin (gynecologist), and Kinderarzt (pediatrician). To find a doctor near you, use the website of the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KV) or simply search on Google Maps for 'Arzt' or the specific type of doctor plus your city name.

Making an appointment: Call the doctor's office (Praxis) and say: Ich möchte bitte einen Termin machen (I would like to make an appointment). If it is urgent, say: Es ist dringend (It is urgent). The receptionist (Arzthelferin) may ask: Waren Sie schon einmal bei uns? (Have you been here before?) and Haben Sie eine Überweisung? (Do you have a referral?). For specialists, you often need a referral (Überweisung) from your Hausarzt. Waiting times for specialist appointments can be weeks or months. For urgent issues outside of office hours, you can visit the Notaufnahme (emergency room) at a hospital or call the medical on-call service (Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst) at 116 117.

At the pharmacy: German pharmacies (Apotheken) are marked with a large red 'A' symbol. Unlike in some countries, you cannot buy most medications at a supermarket in Germany. Even basic painkillers like ibuprofen must be purchased at a pharmacy, though you do not need a prescription for these (they are rezeptfrei — over-the-counter). Prescription medications (rezeptpflichtig) require a doctor's prescription (Rezept). With public insurance, you pay a small co-payment of about 5-10 EUR per prescription medication. The pharmacist (Apotheker) can also give you advice on minor ailments and recommend non-prescription treatments. At night and on weekends, there is always one pharmacy on emergency duty (Notdienst-Apotheke) — check the schedule posted on any pharmacy door or search online.