Seeing a doctor without German health insurance

[parnell 68]

 

German doctors aswell as British ones will not treat a cold with antibiotics. It has to be something more serious such as a lung infection!

I had pneumonia last Christmas - a doctor who is a personal friend of mine as well as one of the few doctors on this planet I consider intelligent would not adminster antibiotics until the point where it looked like my immune system was utterly exhausted. Although I was in rather a lot of pain and had the most amazing cold sweats I agree with this approach entirely.

[fraufruit 42,672]

 

would not adminster antibiotics until the point where it looked like my immune system was utterly exhausted. Although I was in rather a lot of pain and had the most amazing cold sweats I agree with this approach entirely.

I preferred my prompt treatment once the diagnosis was in.

 

Pain hater,

ff

[Barrel of Monkeys 127]

Is anyone able to offer updated prices for seeing a GP doctor in Munich without health insurance? Do they have set prices for short and long consultations?

[Smaug 5,849]

19 minutes ago, Barrel of Monkeys said:

Is anyone able to offer updated prices for seeing a GP doctor in Munich without health insurance? Do they have set prices for short and long consultations?

 

The costs are theoretically the same everywhere in Germany and they are regulated by the Gebührenordnung for Ärzte. A simple consultation should cost 4.66 euro but the doctor can apply a multiple of 2.3 if the consultation is "time consuming or difficult". In my experience they always apply this multiple. The same for examinations (looking at you, your throat, your foot... already counts as an examination). So the simplest of doctors visits would cost: consultation (4.66 x 2.3) + examination (4.66 x 2.33) = 21.44 euro.  Any other tests or services they run would also be charged according to the Gebührenordnung for Ärzte. There's no VAT on medical treatment.

 

Occasionally you might run into a clueless doctor's office assistant who'll be confused by your not having health insurance and might claim that they can't serve you because you don't have a "Versicherungskarte". That's not true. You don't need to be health insured in Germany to be treated and the use of health insurance cards is optional anyway. If you run into this difficulty either insist on it or go to another, more accommodating doctor's office. As a private patient without insurance you should identify yourself as a "Selbstzahler". Sometimes you'll be given an invoice after the treatment, which you will be expected to pay right away; sometimes they'll send you the invoice later by post.

 

[RedMidge 6,638]

Someone will be along to remind all  that Health Insurance is an issue to be taken very carefully!

 

[Barrel of Monkeys 127]

Thanks Smaug for your advice, very comprehensive and helpful

[Barrel of Monkeys 127]

RedMidge

Why bother commenting on a topic if you are going to be a wanker. Of course health insurance is an issue to be taken seriously. I actually have health insurance under my travel insurance, however there is an excess I have to pay. So for less serious issues it is often the case that it is cheaper to just pay the fee than claim on insurance. 

 

[Smaug 5,849]

@Barrel of Monkeys I don't think RedMidge is being a wanker. You are not familiar with this forum yet so you wouldn't know that when a post such as yours appears certain members tend to post reminders about the legal requirement of German residents to be health insured. That's what RedMidge post is about (it's kind of an insider's joke). I wouldn't interpret it as an accusation that you are not taking your health insurance seriously.

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, Barrel of Monkeys said:

RedMidge

Why bother commenting on a topic if you are going to be a wanker. Of course health insurance is an issue to be taken seriously. I actually have health insurance under my travel insurance,

 

Wanker or not – if you live in germany, health insurance is mandatory and in most cases travel insurances are not sufficient. Are you aware of that fact? None of us is a clairvoyant ...

[engelchen 13,041]

8 minutes ago, Barrel of Monkeys said:

I actually have health insurance under my travel insurance

 

Unless you have a Working Holiday Visa, if you are resident in Germany you require German  (or BaFin-approved foreign) health insurance. Travel insurance is insufficient. 

[Barrel of Monkeys 127]

@someonesdaughter that is not correct. Under my Visa I have to have valid travel health insurance. Once I find a job then I need to have the German Heath Insurance

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Barrel of Monkeys said:

@someonesdaughter that is not correct.

 

It is. Believe it or not.

 

1 minute ago, Barrel of Monkeys said:

 

 

Under my Visa I have to have valid travel health insurance. Once I find a job then I need to have the German Heath Insurance

 

I doubt that. But hey, it's gonna be your problem, I don't care.

[Barrel of Monkeys 127]

@engelchen that is incorrect, there are other Visa's other than a working holiday visa that require you to have travel insurance. I am correctly registered, have had my travel heath insurance stamped and am on a visa. Please only respond if you actually have correct and helpful information

[slycookies 1,040]

3 minutes ago, Barrel of Monkeys said:

@engelchen that is incorrect, there are other Visa's other than a working holiday visa that require you to have travel insurance. I am correctly registered, have had my travel heath insurance stamped and am on a visa. Please only respond if you actually have correct and helpful information

 

Ah this was a right laugh.  Engelchen is one of the most knowledgeable (and probably respected) members, especially for the ins and outs on German red tape and places you'll run afowl. 

[Barrel of Monkeys 127]

@someonesdaughter please stop posting incorrect information. As I have a valid visa, valid health insurance sighted by and approved by the foreigners office I can tell you that it is not needed. 

[Barrel of Monkeys 127]

@slycookies that is a shame they didn't have the correct information this time. You must be bored to add your very unhelpful two cents to this post!

[slycookies 1,040]

I'd say the same for anyone who goes around replying to every post.  But what do I know?  I'm probably a wanker too.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Barrel of Monkeys said:

@someonesdaughter please stop posting incorrect information.

 

Please stop lying. The information I posted are correct:

 

- health insurance is mandatory

- in most cases travel insurances are not sufficient

 

2 minutes ago, Barrel of Monkeys said:

 

 

As I have a valid visa, valid health insurance sighted by and approved by the foreigners office I can tell you that it is not needed. 

 

I doubt that - but hey: it's gonna be your problem, I don't care. Have fun.

[Barrel of Monkeys 127]

@someonesdaughter don't accuse me of lying. Your information is incorrect, please don't mislead other readers with your misinformation

[engelchen 13,041]

12 minutes ago, Barrel of Monkeys said:

@engelchen that is incorrect, there are other Visa's other than a working holiday visa that require you to have travel insurance. I am correctly registered, have had my travel heath insurance stamped and am on a visa. Please only respond if you actually have correct and helpful information

First of all, the only other one would be 18c to look for a job for 6 months.

 

More importantly,  I know for a fact that the German Consulate in Sydney used to regularly issue incorrect visas (source a conversation with the Auswärtiges Amt).