Some travellers passing through Germany may assume that the country has free healthcare for all, but in reality German healthcare isn’t really free for anyone – it’s just that most patients don’t need to pay doctors’ offices directly thanks to their health insurance coverage.
On the other hand, some travellers may avoid medical treatment in the country because they worry treatment for the uninsured could be expensive.
Here’s what you need to know.
How the German healthcare system works for residents
Having health insurance is mandatory in Germany, which is why public health insurance is also called statutory health insurance (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung).
For foreign residents, this is enforced initially within the visa application process, because proof of health insurance that meets certain standards is required to obtain a residence permit in Germany. This ensures that virtually all residents in the country have coverage.
People who have public insurance don’t pay for medical services at doctors’ offices, instead a portion (at least 14.6 percent) of their salary is deducted as an insurance contribution. This cost is split between employers and the patients themselves.
Public health insurance in Germany covers most visits to doctors and necessary treatments completely. However patients may need to pay out of pocket for certain specialised treatments, care or medications.
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People with high incomes in Germany have the option of switching to private insurance coverage. For 2025 this applies to people who earn at least €73,800 annually.
The primary benefit for people with salaries at this level is that private insurance coverage offers cheaper monthly contributions. But private insurance contributions generally increase overtime.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED - Can you switch from private to public health insurance in Germany?
Finally, there are some insurance providers offering coverage specifically for expats that meet minimum requirements in Germany.
Some of these plans are designed for specific groups, like incoming foreign students, and may be offered at cheaper monthly rates.
Patients with this kind of coverage often need to pay cash at their doctor’s office and then file a claim to have costs reimbursed – and stories about patients’ claims being rejected for various reasons are not uncommon found on online message boards.
What happens when tourists in Germany need medical care?
Travellers coming from the EU, EEA or Switzerland can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their home country to cover emergency medical treatment in Germany.
By the way, German statutory insurance cards are included in the EHIC system, and allow German residents to get emergency care in other European countries.
Similarly, residents of the UK can use their GHIC cards for emergency treatment in Germany.
Note that the EHIC and GHIC doesn’t guarantee free health care. Most necessary treatments will be covered, but you may still be left with a co-pay for certain services or if you spend time in a hospital.
Non-EU tourists, on the other hand, don’t have any form of automatic coverage in place.
For this reason, it is advisable to secure travel insurance that covers emergency medical costs when visiting Germany. If you have travel insurance, and need to seek medical care, check which deductions you can use.
If you’re a non-EU traveller without travel insurance, you could be stuck paying for any treatment you may need out of pocket.
However, depending on your health insurance back home, you may be able to get money back for some or all of your treatment. So keep your receipts, and check what your policy says later.
Medical costs can be expensive in Germany compared to some other countries, although travellers coming from the US will probably find most basic services and medications to be reasonably priced.
To give an idea, you can expect a consultation with a doctor to cost between €30 and €60, medical tests and analysis could run anywhere from €20 to €100, and basic medication prescriptions commonly cost around €20 at a local pharmacy.
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