Short Answer
Publicly insured patients are charged a mandatory daily co-payment of €10 for the first 28 days of inpatient care per year.
This "Tagegeld" covers the basic administrative and catering costs and is billed to you by mail after you are discharged.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You expected a private room and "Chef-Arzt" (head doctor) treatment as part of your universal coverage. You were placed in a three-person ward with basic food and were later billed €140 for your two-week stay despite having "full" insurance. You lost your expectation of privacy and a week's worth of grocery money because you didn't realize that standard German hospital care is functional rather than comfortable.
What To Do
- Bring your own towels, toiletries, and comfortable clothing, as German hospitals rarely provide "hotel" amenities.
- Ask for a "Wahlleistungsangebot" (elective service list) if you are willing to pay €150+ per night for a single room.
- "Wann bekomme ich den Entlassungsbrief?" (When will I receive the discharge letter?) — Ask this on your final day, as you need it for follow-up care.
The Truth
The system provides high-quality medical care but very low-quality hospitality. Public insurance ensures you survive the surgery, but it does not pay for the luxury of being alone in a room.