Visiting the Doctor in Germany: What You Should Know

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Updated on: Feb 2025

Visiting the doctor in Germany

TL;DR: In Germany, you need health insurance to see a doctor. Make an appointment, and bring your insurance card and student ID. If you’re in an emergency, call 112. Most visits are covered by insurance, and prescriptions can be filled at any pharmacy. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for follow-up care.

If you’re studying in Germany, understanding the healthcare system is a must. You never know when you might need to visit a doctor, so it’s best to be prepared. Here’s a quick, practical guide to make your next doctor’s visit as smooth as possible.

Step 1: Get Health Insurance

As a student, it’s compulsory for you to sign up for health insurance. At German Educare, we advise our students to sign up for public health insurance. Private insurance is an option, but it’s generally more expensive.

Step 2: Finding a Doctor

If you are part of the German Educare student community, you can ask within the network for recommendations. Alternatively, you can ask your classmates or use websites like Jameda or Doctolib to find doctors near you. In bigger cities, it’s possible to find a doctor who speaks English.

Step 3: Make an Appointment

In Germany, doctors usually work by appointment. It’s best to call ahead or book online. If you have an urgent issue, there are urgent care centers or hospital emergency rooms where you can go without an appointment, but for non-emergencies, always try to schedule a time.

Step 4: What to Bring

Make sure to bring your health insurance card and student ID to your appointment. If you’re seeing a specialist, you might also need a referral from your general doctor. It’s good to have these things ready before your visit to avoid any surprises.

Step 5: The Visit

When you see the doctor, explain your symptoms clearly. If you don’t speak German well, it’s helpful to bring a German-speaking friend with you, or you can use a translation app. Be ready to answer questions about your medical history or any current medications you’re taking. Doctors in Germany are thorough and will want to know as much as possible.

Step 6: Payment and Billing

Most of the time, your insurance will cover the visit. The doctor will send the bill to your insurance company directly. If you do have to pay upfront, keep the receipt—your insurance can reimburse you.

What to Do in an Emergency

In case of an emergency, dial 112. This number will connect you to emergency medical services, including ambulances. If you’re not sure whether it’s an emergency, you can also visit the emergency room at the nearest hospital. Many hospitals have “Notaufnahme” (emergency departments) where you can get immediate care, even without an appointment. However, it’s always better to try and call ahead if you can.

After Your Doctor’s Visit: Prescriptions and Pharmacies

If the doctor prescribes medication, you’ll usually receive a prescription to take to the pharmacy. There are many pharmacies (Apotheke) in Germany, and you can find one near you by looking for the red cross symbol. Hand your prescription to the pharmacist, and they’ll give you the medicine. If you need to refill a prescription, pharmacies in Germany can provide you with most medications, but some may require a doctor’s approval.

A Few Key Points to Remember:

  1. Get health insurance before seeing a doctor—it’s non-negotiable.
  2. Find a doctor—look up reviews and ask others.
  3. Book an appointment—appointments are the norm in Germany.
  4. Bring your insurance card and any required documents to your visit.
  5. Know what to do in an emergency—dial 112 for immediate help.
  6. For prescriptions, visit a pharmacy—they’ll handle your medication.

At the end of the day, the German healthcare system is straightforward, but knowing what to expect will help you feel more at ease when you need medical care. Do you know where your nearest doctor is? Have you signed up for health insurance yet? Getting these things sorted will save you a lot of stress down the road.

You might also like

Article title

Article title

error:
Open chat
Talk to us
Hello 👋🏼

How can we help you?

We're here for you from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be away on weekends and public holidays.

Please do leave your question though and we will get back to you within the next business day.