Finding a doctor and making an appointment
If you need to see a doctor for a routine appointment or in relation to a non-urgent issue, you should look for a Hausarzt or Allgemeinarzt. These are equivalent to a family physician in the US or a GP in the UK and can give you a referral to see a specialist if needed.
Seeing your doctor of choice
If you have public health insurance, you need to find a Kassenarzt – a doctor who accepts patients with public health insurance. The National Association of Public Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) offers an online tool (in German only) to help this search.
All doctors accept patients with private health insurance and usually give them priority. You can contact your insurance provider to obtain a list of suitable doctors near you. With ottonova, you can also use our digital Concierge service.
Choosing the right doctor for you
If you opt for private medical insurance, you will be able to choose from all the doctors in your area. This makes it more likely you will find a doctor who speaks English – in fact, most have a decent command of the language.
It also means you can choose between different levels of doctor:
- Stationsarzt (ward physician)
- Belegarzt (inpatient physician)
- Chefarzt (chief physician) – perhaps the best choice if you have a complex condition
Other benefits of private health insurance
In addition to being able to choose the right doctor for you, private health insurance holders also benefit from
- Better accommodation with more privacy
- A wider range of covered treatments
- Access to private clinics
Private insurance is often more affordable in Germany than elsewhere. At ottonova, we have a range of special expat tariffs that offer excellent coverage and benefits.