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Doctors, medicine, hospitals and emergencies
If you‘re new to the area, you‘ll be pleased to know that one of the world‘s best healthcare systems is right here. You can choose between statutory or private health insurance, depending on what suits you best and your budget.
One of the best things about living and working in Germany is that you get universal health care coverage. The standard of healthcare in Germany is pretty high, with general practitioners’ surgeries and hospitals tending to have the latest technology. There are also plenty of specialist medical practices.
As with every other developed country, Germany’s health care system is constantly changing. As life expectancy goes up and the birth rate stays low, the country’s famous health care system is facing some challenges. The public health system is facing financial challenges. Insurance premiums are rising, and the list of fully covered services is getting shorter. At the same time, the cost of co-payments for prescription drugs and routine medical procedures is going up.
It’s important to know that everyone living in Germany must have health insurance. If you want to be legally employed in Germany, you’ll need to have valid health insurance. On top of that, self-employed freelancers, artists, musicians and dependent family members all need to be registered for health insurance. If you need a visa to come to Germany, you’ll need to show you have adequate health insurance before your visa is approved. Students also need to register for healthcare, but at a much lower cost.
If you’re an EU citizen, you can keep your home insurance, but just a heads-up that the benefits might be quite different from what you’re used to.
When it comes to medical insurance, there are two main options in Germany. Roughly 90% of Germans are enrolled in the state-regulated public health insurance system, which is known as the Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung or GKV. The great thing about the public system is that unemployed dependants (spouse and children) are covered at no extra cost. The other 10% of the population have opted for private health insurance from a German company (Private Krankenversicherung or PKV). The quality of care is better, but premiums aren’t capped and family members have to be insured separately.
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I am a general practitioner in Frankfurt with a bicultural background. My father is American, and my mother is German.
State-Regulated Health Insurance (GKV)
Germany’s public health insurance is based on the idea of solidarity, which means that everyone’s premiums are based on the same percentage of income.
Private Health Insurance (PKV)
If you’re on a gross yearly salary of more than €69,300 (2024), you can opt to sign up to a private health insurance programme.
Nursing Care Insurance
It doesn’t matter if you’re on the public or private health insurance plan, you’ll also have to pay into the German government’s mandatory long-term nursing care plan (Pflegepflichtversicherung).
Dental Care
Dental care in Germany is pretty good, but it can also be expensive.
Visiting a Physician
There are two main ways to visit a healthcare provider: you can either make an appointment or drop in during open visiting hours.
Pharmacies
You can get almost any medicine you need at your friendly local pharmacy (they are called Apotheke).
Hospitals
If you need to go to hospital, your doctor will arrange a bed and find a specialist on the staff to see you.
Having a Baby in Germany
Should you have a new member of your family while living in Germany, you’ll need to register your baby with two countries.