Hausarzt Appointment in Germany: GP Booking Guide
Learn how to find a general practitioner, book appointments online, use the 116117 service, and get referrals.
Finding and booking an appointment with a general practitioner (GP or Hausarzt) is the entry point to the healthcare system in Germany. Unlike in some countries where you can go straight to a specialist, German healthcare relies heavily on the 'gatekeeper' system, where your Hausarzt acts as the primary coordinator for all medical treatments. If you require specialized care, your GP will issue a referral document (Überweisung), which is often mandatory for booking an appointment with a specialist and ensuring health insurance coverage.
Appointments can be booked in several ways: by calling the doctor’s office directly, booking online via platforms like Doctolib or Jameda, or using the public health insurance service hotline (116117). For urgent cases, most practices operate a daily open consultation hour (Akutsprechstunde), where patients can walk in without a booking, though waiting times can be long. When visiting, you must present your electronic health insurance card (Gesundheitskarte) at the reception desk.
If you are privately insured or paying out-of-pocket, the booking process is usually faster, with more appointment slots made available. For publicly insured patients, it is highly recommended to register with a specific GP long-term (Hausarztmodell) to receive coordinated care. In case of sickness, your GP will issue a digital sick leave certificate (eAU) directly to your employer and health insurance provider, ensuring you are paid during your recovery period.
📋 Steps to Book a GP Appointment
- 1
Find a local Hausarzt
Search for general practitioners near you using search engines, Doctolib, Jameda, or your insurance directory.
- 2
Choose booking method
Select between calling the office (Praxis), booking online via Doctolib, or visiting during Akutsprechstunde for urgent issues.
- 3
Prepare your insurance card
Locate your statutory or private health insurance card (Gesundheitskarte). You must bring it to every medical visit.
- 4
Attend the consultation
Arrive at least 10-15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to fill out the patient intake questionnaire (Anamnesebogen).
- 5
Request a referral if needed
Ask your GP for a specialist referral (Überweisung) if you require specialized diagnostic tests or treatments.
- 6
Obtain your sick note (eAU)
If you are unfit to work, request a digital sick leave note (eAU). It will be transmitted to your employer automatically.
✅ What to Bring to Your Appointment
- ▸Electronic health card (electronic Gesundheitskarte)
- ▸Valid passport or national identification card
- ▸List of current medications you are taking regularly
- ▸Previous medical records or laboratory test results
- ▸Vaccination booklet (Impfpass) if checking vaccine status
- ▸Intake questionnaire (Anamnesebogen) filled out at the clinic
- ▸Cash or card (for optional individual health services, IGeL)
⚠️ Common Healthcare Pitfalls
- ✕Going directly to a specialist without a GP referral, which can lead to booking rejections or insurance coverage disputes
- ✕Forgetting your electronic health card, which requires you to submit proof of insurance within ten days to avoid billing
- ✕Arriving without a booking for non-urgent matters during busy open consultation hours, resulting in long wait times
- ✕Not registering with a local Hausarzt before you actually get sick, making it hard to find a doctor during acute illness
💶 Fees and Doctor Visit Costs
For patients with statutory health insurance (GKV), GP consultations are fully covered, with a standard co-payment of €0. Private patients or self-payers are billed based on the GoÄ fee scale, ranging from €30 to €150 per consultation (estimated for 2026, depending on complexity). Optional medical tests (IGeL) must be paid out of pocket. Please verify exact coverage terms on your health insurance provider's official website.
📖 German Medical Vocabulary
- der Hausarzt
- General practitioner / GP
- der Termin
- Appointment
- die Praxis
- Doctor's office / clinic
- die Überweisung
- Specialist referral document
- die Akutsprechstunde
- Open walk-in hour for urgent cases
- die Gesundheitskarte
- Electronic health insurance card
- die Krankmeldung (eAU)
- Digital sick leave certificate
- das Rezept
- Medical prescription
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my Hausarzt is closed?+
If your GP is closed (e.g. at night or weekends), call the non-emergency medical service hotline at 116117 or visit an on-call clinic (Bereitschaftspraxis).
What is the Akutsprechstunde?+
It is a designated daily time window (usually in the morning) for patients with acute illnesses to walk in without an appointment.
Can I choose any Hausarzt I want?+
Yes, you have free choice of doctors (freie Arztwahl) in Germany, provided they are accepting new statutory insurance patients.
What is an eAU sick leave note?+
It is an electronic certificate of incapacity to work. Your doctor submits it digitally to your health insurance and your employer.
How do I get a specialist referral?+
Your Hausarzt will evaluate your condition first. If they cannot treat it, they will print a referral code (Vermittlungscode) for a specialist.
Are prescription medications free in Germany?+
Statutory health insurance covers most prescription costs, but patients must pay a standard co-payment of €5 to €10 per medication at the pharmacy.
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