Living in Germany - Health Systems

As soon as you sign an employment contract and want to work in Germany, you must in any event take out health insurance as an employee. So that an illness does not turn into a financial risk, the statutory health insurance funds cover their members and their families in the event of illness. Non-working spouses and children can also be included in the insurance.

Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEC) merely require a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in order to receive medical treatment if they fall ill during a temporary stay in another Member State.

With all doctors, you should make an appointment by telephone. Anyone who goes to the doctor has to pay a quarterly practice fee of EUR 10. For acute illnesses or accidents, you will be given an appointment immediately or on the same day. Otherwise, you will have to wait for several days or even weeks, particularly for dentists or specialists. Few practices are open on Saturdays, and only emergency services can be accessed on Sundays.

After you have been examined, you will receive a prescription for the prescribed medication for which a fixed charge of EUR 5 per item is usually charged at the chemist's. In the case of minor complaints you will be given non-prescription medicines and free advice in any chemist's without visiting the doctor.

If you suddenly need a doctor in the night, at weekends or on public holidays, the emergency doctors and doctors on call will help you. Either look for a hospital or call a doctor in your neighbourhood. An automatic telephone-answering machine will normally list the surgery hours of the doctor concerned and then give the name of the emergency locum. Some chemist's are also open on weekends and holidays. You will generally find the relevant information on signs at the entrance.

Text last edited on: 11/2006

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
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