Working
in Germany
Anyone in Germany who needs medical advice or seeks help with illnesses and health problems should first contact their family doctor. Family doctors are specialists in general or internal medicine, general practitioners and specialists in paediatrics and adolescent medicine.
The German health care system : Appointments with the family doctorSince there is free choice of doctor in Germany, you are free to choose which doctor you go to. You can find doctors in your area on your city’s website or in the telephone directory. Have you found a doctor? You can then call them and make an appointment. In this way you avoid long waiting periods. You can show up at some doctor’s offices directly without an appointment during the practice’s visiting hours. Please note you will then have to wait longer.
The German health care system : FeesWhen you have public health insurance, you need to show your insurance card at the doctor’s office reception desk. This normally ensures that you will not incur any costs, as the invoice will be directly forwarded from the practice to your health insurance company.
Are you still covered by your travel health insurance? Then the respective medical practice will decide whether you have to pay the amount yourself on site or whether the invoice can be sent to your health insurance company. If you pay the amount yourself, you can then forward the paid invoice to your insurance company and receive a reimbursement after successful assessment. If the invoice is sent directly to your insurance company, the insurance company will also only pay after a successful review of your case.