Can I see a doctor in Germany as a tourist?
Yes, you can see a doctor in Germany as a tourist, but you will usually need to pay upfront and use travel insurance for reimbursement.
How to Get Care
- General Practitioner (Hausarzt): Visit a local family doctor or general practitioner for non-emergency illnesses.
- On-Call Medical Service (116 117): Call 116 117 for urgent medical help on weekends, holidays, or evenings when regular clinics are closed.
- Emergency Number (112): Dial 112 immediately for life-threatening emergencies, severe accidents, or chest pain.
- Telemedicine: Use online platforms like TeleClinic or Mobi Doctor for fast, English-speaking virtual consultations.
Costs and Insurance
- EU/UK Citizens: Bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK GHIC to access public healthcare options.
- Non-EU Tourists: You are treated as a private patient. Expect to pay out-of-pocket for visits (around €40 to €150+) and submit the receipt to your travel insurance provider for a refund later.
How can a foreigner see a doctor in Germany?
To see a doctor in Germany as a foreigner, use the 116 117 Service to find non-emergency medical care or book an appointment online via platforms like Doctolib.
1. Check Your Insurance Status
- EU Citizens: Bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access state-provided public healthcare under the same rules as locals.
- Non-EU Tourists: You need travel health insurance that covers medical costs up to at least €30,000. You will usually pay out-of-pocket and submit a claim for reimbursement later.
- Residents/Expats: By law, anyone living in Germany long-term must have statutory (GKV) or private (PKV) health insurance. Bring your plastic insurance card (eGK) to the appointment.
2. Choose the Right Type of Care
- General Practitioner (Hausarzt): Go here first for everyday illnesses, prescriptions, and routine vaccines. You can visit a general practitioner, dentist, or gynecologist directly without a referral.
- Specialists (Facharzt): Some specialists require a referral letter (Überweisung) from your Hausarzt, though many do not.
- Urgent Care: If you need a doctor outside normal office hours for a non-life-threatening issue, call 116 117 or visit an on-call medical clinic (Bereitschaftspraxis).
- Emergencies: For severe, life-threatening conditions, call 112 for an ambulance or go straight to a hospital emergency room (Notaufnahme).
3. Find an English-Speaking Doctor
- Search online platforms like Doctolib or Jameda and use filters for spoken languages (English / Englisch).
- Use official tools like the TK DoctorGuide to locate English-speaking physicians in your city.
What happens if a tourist gets sick in Germany?
If a tourist gets sick in Germany, they will receive necessary medical treatment, but how they pay and access care depends heavily on whether they are from an EU country and if they have insurance. Emergency care is legally guaranteed to everyone regardless of insurance or ability to pay upfront.
Emergency vs. Non-Emergency Care
- Life-threatening emergencies: Call 112 for ambulance and emergency room services. Hospitals must treat life-threatening conditions immediately.
- Urgent non-emergencies: Call 116117 to reach the on-call medical service (Ärzlicher Bereitsitätsdienst) for urgent issues outside normal clinic hours.
- Minor illnesses: Visit a local pharmacy (Apotheke) for over-the-counter medicine and advice. For daytime non-emergencies, look for a general practitioner (Hausarzt).
Costs and Insurance Coverage
- EU/EEA Citizens: Tourists carrying a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK GHIC can access the public healthcare system under the same conditions and rates as local residents.
- Non-EU Citizens: Visitors from outside the EU (such as the US, Canada, or Australia) must generally pay out-of-pocket for doctor visits and prescriptions, then seek reimbursement from their private travel insurance provider.
- Uninsured/Bill Payment: If a non-emergency patient has no insurance or cannot pay upfront, treatment may require a deposit or financial guarantee once the immediate emergency is resolved, and an invoice will be issued directly to the patient. You can read more about Medical Care in Europe by Rick Steves for general travel health tips.
Can tourists get free healthcare in Germany?
No, healthcare in Germany is not free for tourists.
How Care Works for Visitors
- Out-of-pocket costs: Tourists without special coverage must pay for all medical treatments, doctor visits, and prescriptions out of pocket.
- EU/UK residents: If you hold a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), you can access necessary public healthcare under the same terms and costs as a local resident. However, this does not mean it is completely free, as you may still face standard co-payments.
- Non-EU/International tourists: Visitors from countries without a reciprocal healthcare agreement must pay for all medical services.
Travel Insurance
- Most international travelers need to buy private travel medical insurance before arriving.
- Travel insurance is legally mandatory if you need to apply for a Schengen visa to enter Germany.
- Domestic health insurance from your home country generally will not cover medical costs incurred in Germany.
How much does it cost to visit a doctor in Germany?
If you have German statutory health insurance (GKV), visiting a doctor costs €0 out-of-pocket, as necessary treatments are covered directly by your provider. However, if you are a tourist, expat, or otherwise uninsured/self-paying, a doctor's visit typically ranges from €30 to €70 for a general practitioner (GP) and €80 to €150+ for a specialist.
Medical fees for self-paying patients are strictly regulated by federal law under the official German medical fee schedule, the Gebührenordnung für Ärzte (GOÄ).
Summary of Potential Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Medical Service | Cost with Public Insurance | Cost Without Insurance (Self-Pay) |
|---|---|---|
| General Practitioner (Hausarzt) | €0 | €30 – €70 |
| Specialist Visit (e.g., Dermatologist) | €0 | €80 – €150+ |
| Telehealth / Online Doctor | €0 (if covered) | €20 – €40 |
| Prescription Medication | €5 – €10 copayment | €10 – €50+ (Full price) |
| Bloodwork / Lab Tests | €0 | €20 – €100 |
| Basic Imaging (e.g., Ultrasound, X-Ray) | €0 | €30 – €200 |
| Hospital Stay (Per Day) | €10 (max 28 days/year) | €1,200 – €2,000+ |
Important Rules to Keep in Mind
- Individual Health Services (IGeL): Even with public insurance, doctors may offer optional diagnostic procedures or alternative treatments called Individuelle Gesundheitsleistungen (IGeL). You must pay for these out-of-pocket if you consent to them, but the doctor is legally required to inform you of the cost beforehand.
- Tourists from the EU/UK: If you hold a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or GHIC, your necessary medical care is covered under the same terms as German residents.
- Private Travel Insurance: If you pay out-of-pocket as a visitor, remember to ask the clinic for an itemized invoice (Rechnung) matching the GOÄ guidelines so you can submit it to your travel insurance provider for reimbursement.
Doctor Finder - How to find a doctor in Germany
9 related questions found
What is the average wait time to see a doctor in Germany?
The average wait time to get an appointment with a specialist doctor in Germany is 42 days for people with statutory (public) health insurance.
Appointment Wait Times by Type
- Specialist Appointments (Public Insurance): Average 42 days, up from 33 days in previous years. Urgent cases flagged by a primary doctor can sometimes be seen within a week.
- Primary Care / General Practitioners (GPs/Hausärzte): Average around 4 days, though about one in five patients may wait a week or longer.
- Specialty Differences: Specialties like dermatology, cardiology, and psychiatry often have longer non-urgent wait times exceeding three weeks, whereas ear, nose, and throat (ENT) or general medicine tend to be faster.
- Private Insurance: Patients with private insurance generally experience shorter appointment wait times (averaging around 3.3 days for primary care) and get priority booking.
In-Clinic Wait Times
- Office Wait Times: As noted by a consensus of users on Reddit, waiting over an hour in the practice (Praxis) past your scheduled appointment time is common due to overbooking, walk-in emergencies, and lengthy consultations.
Can I go to the doctor without an appointment in Germany?
Yes, you can see a general practitioner (Hausarzt) without an appointment in Germany during dedicated walk-in hours known as Sprechstunde, though you should expect a long wait.
How Walk-In Visits Work
- Open Consultation Hours: Many clinics set aside specific times (Sprechstunde)—often early in the morning—where patients can show up without booking a Termin (appointment) in advance.
- Long Wait Times: Because priority is given to scheduled appointments, walk-in patients are seen in between or after scheduled patients. Prepare to wait significantly longer.
- Call Ahead: Policies vary by practice. Some clinics require you to call first thing in the morning to see if they can squeeze you into the open queue that day.
Alternatives for Urgent Care
- Outside Office Hours: If you need a doctor in the evening, on a weekend, or during a holiday when regular clinics are closed, call the nationwide on-call medical service at 116117 (or visit an Ärztliche Bereitschaftspraxis / on-call clinic).
- Emergencies: For severe, life-threatening conditions, go directly to a hospital emergency room or call 112.
What medications can I not bring to Germany?
You cannot bring counterfeit medications, harmful doping substances (such as testosterone or nandrolone), or excessive amounts of any medicine into Germany.
General Medication Rules
- Quantity Limit: You can bring a maximum three-month supply of personal-use medication.
- Definition: Personal use means the amount needed based on standard recommended dosages for your trip.
- Packaging: Keep medicines in their original pharmacy containers with clear labels.
- Documentation: Carry a copy of your doctor's prescription or a signed medical letter detailing the generic names, active ingredients, and daily doses.
Strict Rules for Narcotics and Controlled Substances
- Schengen Area Travel: If you travel from a Schengen country, prescribed narcotics are allowed for up to 30 days if you carry a certified Article 75 Schengen certificate from your doctor.
- Non-Schengen Travel: If you arrive from outside the Schengen area, you need a multilingual doctor's certificate authenticated by your home country's health authority.
- Personal Transport: You must carry controlled drugs on your person; third parties cannot transport them for you.
Mailing Restrictions
- No Mail Orders: You cannot receive prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicine, or vitamins by mail or online delivery into Germany due to strict customs rules.
Is the emergency room free in Germany?
Emergency room treatment in Germany is not completely free, though the cost depends entirely on your health insurance status.
Costs by Insurance Status
- Insured Residents (Public or Private): Emergency room (Notaufnahme) care is fully covered by your German health insurance plan. You will not receive a direct bill for the medical treatment itself, provided you show your insurance card. If you are admitted to the hospital overnight as an inpatient, a small statutory co-payment of around €10 per day may apply (up to a maximum of €280 per year).
- EU Visitors with an EHIC: If you are visiting from another EU/EEA country and present a valid European Health Insurance Card, emergency treatment is covered under the same terms as local public insurance, though administrative mix-ups occasionally lead to direct billing.
- Uninsured Individuals: Hospitals are legally required to treat life-threatening emergencies regardless of insurance status. However, if you do not have health insurance, you will be billed directly for the full cost of care, which can easily range from €100 to over €1,000 depending on the treatment.
What are the most common diseases in Germany?
Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes are the most common and deadly diseases in Germany.
Leading Chronic Conditions and Diseases
- Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): Heart conditions, including ischemic heart disease and coronary heart disease, affect nearly 13 million people and cause roughly 34% of all deaths.
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): This is the most frequent diagnosis in general practitioner practices, impacting nearly 30% of adults aged 30 to 79.
- Cancer (Malignant Neoplasms): Accounting for roughly 22% to 25% of all deaths, cancer is the second leading cause of mortality, with lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers being the most common.
- Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 diabetes affects roughly 8.5 to 10% of the population, carrying a high risk for secondary circulatory and kidney complications.
- Mental Disorders: Conditions like anxiety and depressive disorders affect over 27% of adults annually, contributing significantly to overall health impairment.
- Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect millions, alongside recurring acute viral infections.
- Dementia: Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia impact roughly 1.8 million older adults.