As previously mentioned, health insurance is mandatory for everyone living in Germany. There are two options for health insurance. The first is the government-operated compulsory insurance or Krankenkasse. This program covers about 90 percent of the population and is mandatory, unless the person is already covered by a private insurance plan. It covers many of the basic healthcare services, including doctor consultations, hospital treatments and prescriptions drugs. The premium for the Krankenkasse is about 15.5 percent of the recipient’s annual income. For a list of state social insurance companies, visit the Krankenkasse website.
The other option is private health insurance. There are over 40 private health insurance companies in Germany serving almost nine million people. The premium depends on age and health status, so applicants are required to have a medical examination. There are some advantages to having private health insurance. For example, recipients have a wider choice of doctors and dentists, which can be helpful for American expats who need an English-speaking medical provider. You can find a list of private health insurance providers on the Krankenkasse website.
Hospitals. Hospitals in Germany have high standards, are run by highly qualified healthcare workers and equipped with the most advanced medical technologies. There are over 2,000 hospitals in the country, 10 percent of which focus on providing medical care for international patients. The German government requires all hospitals to have an internal-quality management process to ensure that patients receive the highest level of care.
Doctors. After acquiring health insurance, you can register with a family doctor, or Hausarzt. Your health insurance provider will give you a plastic ID card, which doctors require before providing treatment. The German health insurance plan will not limit your choices of doctors, so you can generally pick the office that is most convenient for you. However, many doctors prefer patients with a private insurance plan because they get paid more. If you are under the state insurance plan, your doctor bill will be taken care of by the insurance company. Those with private insurance usually pay at the time of treatment and receive a reimbursement from the company at a later date.
German doctors are exceptionally qualified thanks to the high standards of education. Only students who complete the highest level of secondary education, Gymnasium, and obtain the Abitur certificate are qualified for entry to a medical university. To obtain a medical degree, students must complete an additional six years of education. During this time, candidates are expected to complete 48 weeks of in-hospital training and three months of nursing services. Students then must take the state-administered medical examination before being awarded the medical certificate.
Dentists
Not all dental procedures are covered by health insurance. Fortunately, those under the age of 18 are able to receive free dental service under most insurance plans, but adults are expected to pay at least a portion of the fee.
Dental education in Germany follows the same high medical standards. Students who want to apply to a dental program must have graduated from a Gymnasium and acquired the Abitur certificate. The program consists of five years at a university, which includes clinical training. Upon completion of a state dental examination, students obtain a dental certificate awarded by the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Emergency Medical Care
The emergency number in Germany, like all other countries in Europe, is 112. Operators speak English, German or French.