Find it in FRM: Medical Care

Finding the right Medical Care

Before you go to a doctor, you should check whether you have valid health insurance. Your health insurance fund pays for doctor and hospital visits and, for those with statutory insurance, are settled directly between the doctor's surgery and the health insurance fund. This means you do not have to pay first and then wait for a refund. For prescription medicines, the health insurance company covers all or most of the costs; you have to pay for other medicines yourself. 

Unlike in many other countries, outpatient care in Germany does not take place in hospitals. Instead, general practitioners (for children: paediatricians) are the first point of contact for all patients. They are general practitioners. They decide on further treatment and refer you to the appropriate specialists or, if necessary, to a hospital.

You can find general practitioners everywhere in the region. You can decide for yourself which general practitioner you would like to go to. To find a practice near you, you can look in the yellow pages or search the internet. You can also use the Health Foundation's search function. Alternatively, you can ask your health insurance company for a recommendation.

Once you have chosen a GP practice, you can make an appointment there – in person, by telephone or, in some cases, online. 

If you need an appointment with a specialist, you can search for a specialist practice in your area and make an appointment yourself. However, specialists are often very busy. You can therefore use a service provided by health insurance companies that arranges appointments. To do this, you must first obtain a referral from a GP.

If you fall ill outside of consultation hours and cannot wait until the next consultation, you should call the emergency medical service. You can reach them via the standard telephone number: 116 117.

In the event of acute, life-threatening illnesses or serious injuries, you should call an ambulance (emergency number: 112) or go directly to the hospital for treatment.