Healthcare & Doctors — Navigate Germany

🛡️ Health insurance in Germany

In Germany health insurance is mandatory. You must be insured from day one of living or working here.

Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV)

Public health insurance — approx. 14.6% of salary, split between you and employer.

Covers doctor visits, hospital, prescriptions
Family members insured for free (no income)
No waiting periods for pre-existing conditions
Required for employees earning < €69,300/yr

Private Krankenversicherung (PKV)

Private insurance — available if you earn > €69,300/yr or are self-employed.

Faster appointments, private rooms
Cost depends on age and health at signup
Family members NOT automatically covered
Can be hard to switch back to GKV

Major public insurers (Krankenkassen)

TK — Techniker Krankenkasse

Largest GKV. English support. Popular with tech workers.

→ tk.de

AOK

Regional insurers covering all 16 states. Good for families.

→ aok.de

Barmer

Strong digital services and app support.

→ barmer.de

DAK

Good for freelancers and self-employed transitioning.

→ dak.de

IKK classic

Strong in craft and trade sectors.

→ ikk-classic.de

hkk

Low contribution rate. Good for healthy younger workers.

→ hkk.de

👨‍⚕️ Finding a doctor

First visit in Germany: register with a Hausarzt (GP) near you. They refer you to specialists.

Jameda

Germany's largest doctor search. Filter by specialty, language, and insurance type.

→ jameda.de

Doctolib

Online appointment booking. Many doctors list availability in real time.

→ doctolib.de

Kassenärztliche Vereinigung

Official doctor search by your region. Accepts all GKV patients.

→ kbv.de

Termin-Service (116117)

Call or go online to get a guaranteed specialist appointment within 4 weeks.

→ 116117.de

Tips for your first appointment

Bring your Krankenversicherungskarte (health insurance card)
Bring your passport or ID
Bring a list of current medications
Arrive 10–15 minutes early to fill in registration forms
Doctors speak English more often in cities — you can ask in advance
If you need an interpreter, ask your insurer — some cover it

🚨 Urgent and emergency care

🚑 Emergency — call 112

Life-threatening emergency, serious accident, heart attack, stroke. Free call from any phone including mobile without credit.

📞 Out-of-hours doctor — 116117

Not an emergency but can't wait until Monday. Call 116117 free — they send a doctor to you or direct you to a nearby clinic. Available nights, weekends, holidays.

🏥 Notaufnahme (A&E)

Walk-in emergency department at hospitals. For urgent but non-life-threatening issues. Expect 2–4 hour waits for non-critical cases.

💊 Pharmacy (Apotheke)

Pharmacists can advise and provide OTC medications. Duty pharmacies (Notdienstapotheke) open 24/7 — find one at aponet.de

🧠 Mental health support

Mental health treatment is covered by German public health insurance. You do not need to suffer in silence.

Crisis line (free)

0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222. Anonymous, 24/7, free.

→ telefonseelsorge.de

Psychotherapist search

Search via your Krankenkasse or KBV. Waiting times can be long — ask for Akutversorgung (urgent care).