No. Inside the system, costs depend on insurance type, not nationality.
Yes. Request a "Mitgliedsbescheinigung" or "Abrechnungsbescheinigung" from your insurer via email.
Your coverage starts from day one. Ask your employer or insurer for a "Versicherungsbestätigung" to show the clinic.
Choose between public (GKV) or private (PKV). If earning below €69,300, apply directly to a GKV provider (e.g., TK, AOK).
GKV is income-based (~14.6%) and covers family for free. PKV offers faster specialist access but premiums rise with age and each family member pa…
If you move directly between jobs, coverage is continuous. If there is even a one-day gap, contact your insurer to arrange "voluntary insurance"…
You are covered for one month after employment ends. Register as unemployed at the Agentur für Arbeit immediately; the state will pay your GKV pr…
Under 30s at uni must use public insurance (GKV, approx. €148/month). Over 30s or language students use private.
You need "incoming insurance" (min. €30,000 coverage). Switch to GKV immediately once you sign an employment contract or start a regular job.
Use visa-compliant incoming insurance (e.g., Feather, Care Concept) until you find a job.
Register with a Hausarzt (GP) while healthy. You need a referral (Überweisung) from them for most specialists to avoid lower priority or higher f…
Call multiple clinics right when they open. Ask for an "Akutsprechstunde" (emergency slot) if sick.
Call at 8:00am and say: "Ich habe akute Beschwerden" (I have acute symptoms).
Most have early morning walk-in hours (Sprechstunde ohne Termin). Arrive 30 minutes before opening and expect a 1–3 hour wait.
Use Doctolib or Jameda. Filter for "accepting new patients" and "English speaking." Check local expat groups for personal recommendations.
Yes, anytime. Register at a new clinic by presenting your card. You don't need to inform the old doctor or fill out any transfer paperwork.
Yes, for most. While not always mandatory, an "Überweisung" (referral) ensures faster appointments and better communication between doctors.
Yes. It is valid only for the quarter (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec) it was issued.
Call 116 117. By law, public insurance patients must be offered a specialist appointment within 4 weeks if they have a referral.
It is a 24-hour non-emergency line. It finds on-call doctors when clinics are closed and enforces your right to a specialist within 4 weeks.
Search by location and sort by "earliest available." Expand your search radius to neighboring cities.
Yes. Your insurance card is valid across all 16 states. No extra fees or paperwork are required. Just bring your card.
Ask your current doctor for your test results and diagnosis in writing. Bring these to any other doctor. It is covered by your insurance.
Ask the specialist's clinic to contact your Hausarzt to confirm the referral by fax. Or call your Hausarzt and ask them to fax it immediately.
Search Doctolib and filter for "English speaking." In smaller towns, use a translation app's conversation mode during the consultation.
No. Say: "Ich möchte das lieber mit dem Arzt besprechen" (I'd prefer to discuss that with the doctor directly).
Yes, it is standard. The culture treats the body as a clinical subject. Staff will give you a moment of privacy if you ask for it.
Use measurable facts: "I've had a 39-degree fever for 5 days" or "I cannot work/sleep due to pain." Ask for specific tests.
Ask: "Was ist meine genaue Diagnose auf Englisch?" Request a written summary. Use DeepL to translate any German medical reports.
Yes. Ask: "Ich möchte eine Kopie meiner Befunde." You have a legal right to your data under GDPR.
Ask: "Gibt es keine medikamentöse Behandlung?" (Is there no medication?) Explain how the illness prevents you from working.
Check for your Rezept (prescription), Überweisung (referral), or AU (sick note). Take prescriptions to a pharmacy immediately.
Hand your insurance card and prescription to the pharmacist. Expect to pay a "Zuzahlung" (co-payment) of €5–10 per item.
Pink (public): 28 days. Blue (private): 3 months. eRezepts are on your card. Go immediately to avoid expiration.
Yes. Generics have the same active ingredients and are cheaper. Your co-payment stays the same.
Yes. It is a "Zuzahlung" (co-payment). Keep all receipts to claim a refund if your annual costs exceed 2% of your income.
Search "Notdienstapotheke" online or check aponet.de. One pharmacy in every area stays open 24/7 on a rotating basis.
Show the doctor the "Wirkstoff" (active ingredient). They can find the German equivalent. Bring the original box to the appointment.
Drugstores (dm) sell supplements/vitamins. Pharmacies (Apotheke) sell medicine. Only an Apotheke can fill a prescription.
For serious reactions (swelling, breathing), call 112. For mild ones, call 116 117. Inform your doctor the next day.
Call 116 117. They assess your symptoms and direct you to an on-call doctor or after-hours clinic. Only call 112 for life-threats.
112 is for life-threatening emergencies. 116 117 is for urgent cases that can't wait until Monday but aren't fatal.
Call 112 for chest pain, unconsciousness, or severe bleeding. If you can walk and speak, take a taxi or call 116 117.
Public insurance covers most costs; you pay about €10. Without insurance, it's €500+. Non-emergencies may be billed in full.
Yes. Triage prioritizes life-threatening cases. Expect 4–8 hour waits on weekends. If you get worse, tell the nurse immediately.
Ask for the address of the nearest "Notfallpraxis" (after-hours clinic) or call 116 117. You have the right to a record of the talk.
Search "Zahnärztlicher Notdienst" or call 116 117. Rotating clinics treat acute pain only. Expect an after-hours surcharge.
Notify your employer before your shift starts. You don't need to give a diagnosis. Check your contract for when a sick note (AU) is required.
By law, from the 4th day, but many contracts say the 1st day. Get an AU on day one to be safe.
Doctors submit it digitally to your insurer. Your employer retrieves it. You must still notify your employer manually on your first day.
Yes. Use services like TeleClinic to get an eAU for common illnesses. Check if your employer accepts online notes before you use them.
Yes. Do not work while on sick leave. Doing so can invalidate your insurance benefits (Krankengeld). Recovery is your only legal activity.
Yes. Get a "Kinderkrankenschein" from the pediatrician. Notify your employer early. Your health insurance pays approx. 90% of your net salary.
In 2026, 15 days per parent, per child. Single parents get 30 days. These are paid by insurance and separate from your personal sick leave.
Bring your insurance card. Fill out the "Anamnesebogen" (health form).
Search Doctolib for "Zahnarzt Notfall." Call clinics exactly when they open and say: "Ich habe starke Zahnschmerzen" (I have severe tooth pain).
Public insurance covers basic treatments only. For expensive work, submit the "Heil- und Kostenplan" to your insurer for approval before you star…
Public insurance usually only covers metal or basic plastic. White ceramic is cosmetic and costs €200–€1,000 per tooth out-of-pocket.
No. It costs €80–150. However, many insurers give partial cashback through their "Bonusprogramm." Submit your receipt via their app.
Yes, if staying over a year. It costs €10–30/month and covers implants and crowns. Sign up *before* you have a problem, as waiting periods apply.
Search Doctolib for "Frauenärztin" and filter for English. Call and say "Ich bin schwanger" (I am pregnant) to bypass waitlists.
Public insurance (GKV) covers almost 100% of standard pregnancy care and hospital birth. You only pay for elective extras like a private room.
Yes. Midwives provide essential postpartum care at your home. Search on hebammensuche.de or ammim.de as soon as you find out you are pregnant.
Yes, but only with "Kassenzulassung" therapists. Visit your Hausarzt for a "Vermittlungscode" or call 116 117 to find an initial consultation.
Search for "Psychologische Beratung" (Psychological Counseling) or "Crisis Chat." Many NGOs provide free or low-cost counseling in English.
Specialists and diagnostic centers are often booked months in advance.
Search for "Physiotherapie." Call clinics immediately as prescriptions (Heilmittelverordnung) often expire if treatment doesn't start within 28 d…
Public insurance patients pay a "Tagegeld" of €10 per day for the first 28 days of a hospital stay per calendar year.
Yes. Ask your doctor or hospital social worker for "Anschlussheilbehandlung" (AHB) or a "Reha" application to your pension fund or insurance.
Ask your Hausarzt for a new yellow booklet. They can reconstruct your history from their digital files and re-stamp it.
Book a gynecologist (Frauenarzt) appointment for week 8 and find a midwife (Hebamme) immediately via ammely.de.
Accept it as standard clinical culture. Ask for privacy ("Privatsphäre") before undressing. Wear a long top or skirt to stay covered.
Search Doctolib and call local clinics. Ask: "Nehmen Sie neue Patienten an?" (Do you accept new patients?).
Call 116 117 or your insurance provider's "Terminservice." In an emergency, go to the "Kindernotaufnahme" (Children's ER) at a hospital.
They are developmental checks (U1–U9). While not legally "mandatory" in all states, missing them triggers a welfare check from the Jugendamt.
Contact previous clinics for records. Any German doctor can issue a new yellow booklet and re-stamp confirmed vaccinations.
Yes. Proof of Measles (Masern) vaccination is legally required. You need two doses to enroll in any Kita or school.
No. Prescription medication for children under 18 is free (no Zuzahlung) under public insurance.
Get a referral (Überweisung) from your Hausarzt. Book an initial "Sprechstunde" (consultation) through 116 117 or Doctolib.
Go to the "Psychiatrische Notaufnahme" (Psychiatric ER) at a hospital or call 116 117 for an urgent referral.
Yes. Apply for "Kostenerstattung." Document 5 rejections (name, date, reason) and submit a formal request to your insurer.
It is likely Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). See your Hausarzt for Vitamin D tests or a "Tageslichtlampe" (light therapy) prescription.
Search for "japanischsprachige Psychotherapie" in Berlin/Düsseldorf or use global online platforms.
Call 0800 111 0 111 (Seelsorge) or go directly to the "Psychiatrische Notaufnahme" (Psychiatric ER) at any major hospital.
No. Treatment costs depend on your insurance, not nationality. Non-EU citizens just pay differently to "enter" the system (via visa insurance).
Ask your provider for a "Versicherungsbestätigung" specifically stating it meets Section 11 Paragraph 1-3 of the Residence Act.
Use Feather (English support), Care Concept (trusted by authorities), or Fintiba (good for students and blocked accounts).
Switch on the very first day of your job or university enrollment. Do not leave a single day uncovered between policies.
Your insurance remains active as long as you pay, but get a "Fiktionsbescheinigung" (temporary permit) to prove your right to stay.
No. The EHIC is for tourists. Once you register your address (Anmeldung), you are a resident and must join the German system.
Yes. Download the German pack for Google Translate or DeepL. Use "Conversation Mode" or show written translations for key symptoms.
Call 112 immediately. Ambulances are dispatched based on proximity, not city limits. Do not drive yourself if severely injured.
Yes. Your insurance card is valid across all 16 states. Search Doctolib and expand your radius to neighboring states like Brandenburg.
Yes. Request your "Patientenakte" (medical file) in writing. Doctors are legally required to provide copies under GDPR.
Find a "Physiotherapiepraxis" and book immediately. Your prescription (Heilmittelverordnung) expires 28 days after the issue date.
Go back to your Hausarzt and ask for a "reissued" prescription. Expand your search to neighboring districts.
Go to an optician (Optiker) for a glasses test. Go to an eye doctor (Augenarzt) for pain, floaters, or sudden vision loss.
Yes, but it's called "Präventionsmedizin" and is mostly a private pay service (€200–500). Public "Check-up 35" is more basic.
No, it is optional but free every 3 years. It covers blood tests, blood pressure, and cardiovascular risk assessment.
No. Buy standard 1000–2000 IU Vitamin D3 at drugstores (dm/Rossmann). High-dose versions require a prescription.
Insist: "Diese Karte ist EU-weit gültig." If they still refuse, pay upfront, get an itemized receipt, and claim reimbursement from your home insu…
They aren't. Doctors can decline any new patient if they are full. Use Doctolib or call 116 117 to find a practice accepting new patients.
Cite EU Directive 2011/24. Say: "Ich benötige ein grenzüberschreitendes Rezept." They are legally required to provide a compliant version.
Use Doctolib's language filter or search Facebook groups like "Italiani a Berlino" or "Españoles en Múnich" for vetted lists.
Yes. German dental costs are among Europe's highest. Insurance only covers "basic" work. Pay the difference or travel home for elective work.
Yes for complex cases. Public insurance covers treatment nationwide. Choose university hospitals (Uniklinik) for the best specialized care.
Yes. Hospital food is often basic and insufficient. Inform the nursing staff of your dietary needs or bring your own sealed food.
Yes. It is common. They prioritize efficiency over hospitality. Stay calm, be direct, and don't take the "Berliner Schnauze" (rudeness) personall…
National regulations differ. Germany is strict with antibiotics and painkillers. Ask your Hausarzt for a prescription for your usual meds.
Register where you live (Anmeldung) for continuity of care. You can still visit any doctor near your office for acute issues using the same card.
Yes. Say: "Entschuldigung, könnten Sie etwas leiser sprechen?" (Excuse me, could you speak more quietly?) If ignored, inform a nurse.
Use concrete data: "Ich habe seit 5 Tagen 39 Grad Fieber." Ask: "Welche medizinische Behandlung empfehlen Sie außer Hausmitteln?"
Expect ~14.6% of gross pay plus a ~1.7% surcharge. It covers you, your spouse, and children at no extra cost.
No. A standard "Überweisung" (referral) is valid at any specialist nationwide. Just book and bring your insurance card.
Tell the receptionist: "Ich bin in 10 Minuten zurück." They will usually hold your spot for a short break.
Contact your insurer or the "Unabhängige Patientenberatung Deutschland" (UPD) at 0800 011 77 22 for a free review.
Show your PDF and say: "Diese Versicherung ist für meinen Visumantrag zugelassen." If they refuse, pay cash and claim it back later.
No. Visa insurance is for emergencies only. Bring enough medication from home to last until you switch to public insurance (GKV).
No. It can be seen as bribery (Bestechung). Say "Danke schön" and leave a positive Google/Jameda review instead.
Switch to public insurance (GKV) as soon as you start your job. Start searching for a "Hebamme" (midwife) immediately.
Document symptoms in writing (dates/severity) and change practices immediately.
Yes, unless "aut idem" is checked on the prescription. Ask the pharmacist: "Ich möchte bitte das günstigere Generikum."
Cite the law: "Ich habe das Recht auf eine Kopie meiner Befunde gemäß DSGVO" (GDPR). The clinic must provide them.
Usually no. Taxi costs require prior written certification from a doctor for medical necessity. Only call 112 for free emergency transport.
Yes. Some herbs (like St. John’s Wort) interfere with German meds, including birth control. Tell your doctor everything you take.
Download it instantly from your insurer’s app or portal. Look for "Mitgliedsbescheinigung für Behörden."
Maybe. Ask your German pediatrician to "transfer" the records into a yellow German "Impfpass." This is the most accepted method.
Yes. You are not obligated to pay for treatment without a written "Heil- und Kostenplan" (HKP). Ask for one before they start.
Call 116 117 first for advice. Only call 112 for difficulty breathing, seizures, or if a baby under 3 months has any fever.
No. This is "Melderegisterbetrug" (fraud). It can lead to fines and visa cancellation. You must register where you actually live.
Fax is legally recognized as a secure transmission in Germany. Accept it as the current systemic standard and use it when required.
Show your Doctolib confirmation email or app notification immediately as proof. If refused, contact Doctolib support to resolve the error.
Yes. Call exactly when they open (usually 8:00 AM) or book via Doctolib. For urgent issues, go in person.
Hand over your insurance card (eGK) immediately. Say: "Ich habe einen Termin um [Time] Uhr." Use a translation app for the forms.
Yes. Say: "Kann ich kurz einen Moment für mich haben?" to undress in private. Wear a long skirt or tunic to stay covered.
e-prescriptions (eRezept) from licensed German providers are legally valid. If refused, use an online pharmacy like DocMorris or Shop-Apotheke.
Yes, via your insurer's app (e.g., TK-App, AOK-mein Leben). Look for the "ePA" (Electronic Patient Record) feature.
Technically possible, but risky. Working while on "Krankengeld" (sick pay) can lead to your benefits being cancelled.
If it was an eRezept, it's already on your insurance card. If it was paper, you must call the clinic for a physical reissue.
Yes. Book as a "Privatpatient." You will pay €100–300 out-of-pocket, but you can usually get an appointment within days.
Use "functional impact" language: "Ich kann wegen der Schmerzen nicht arbeiten." Ask: "Gibt es eine medikamentöse Option?"
Yes. Provide your insurance name and membership number. Doctors can verify coverage and access your ePA (Electronic Patient Record) digitally.
Ask: "Sprechen Sie Englisch?" If not, use Google Translate "Conversation Mode" or call 112 for life-threatening emergencies.
Yes, for standard vision updates. Opticians (Optiker) can conduct tests and issue prescriptions for glasses/contacts directly.
No. Public insurance (GKV) does not cover therapists based outside Germany.
Bring a small personal towel from home or wear a long, loose skirt to stay covered while seated.
Yes. They follow strict EU protocols and MRSA screenings. You are entitled to ask staff about their infection control.
Yes. Exam rooms are treated as clinical workspaces, not private rooms. Ask: "Könnten Sie bitte anklopfen?"
Yes. Germany uses strict autoclave sterilization and single-use disposables for high-risk procedures.
Talk to the doctor: "Gibt es eine medizinische Begründung für diese Menge?" Discuss alternatives if it feels excessive.
Only if the tablet is not "Retard" or "SR" (slow-release). Ask your pharmacist: "Darf ich diese Tablette teilen?"
Yes. Ask the ward nurse: "Kann ich bitte das Zimmer wechseln?" Room changes depend on availability but are often granted for sleep issues.
No. Doctors are legally forbidden from backdating sick notes. The AU starts on the day you are seen.
Most clinics separate "sick" and "well" visits by time. Ask for the first appointment of the "well-child" (U-Untersuchung) block.
Public insurance only covers "Check-up 35" (basic). For a full-body scan, go to a private "Präventionszentrum" and pay €200–800 out-of-pocket.
Yes. They are effective, but German doctors aren't trained in them. You can use them safely alongside German treatments.
Search the drug name on "medicines.org.uk" or "drugs.com." For Japanese, check the PMDA website for the equivalent active ingredient.
German dentists work in stages to monitor healing. It’s a conservative clinical choice, not a way to bill you more.
Ask: "Wäre eine Lichttherapie (Tageslichtlampe) für mich geeignet?" Some insurers reimburse this if the doctor writes a recommendation.
Yes. It is very helpful. Translate the active ingredients (Wirkstoffe) into German/English using DeepL before the appointment.