Autor: Alessa Boettcher

What you can do if you are feeling sick:

If you are feeling sick and need to see a doctor and need medicine, I listed some tips for what you can do:

1. How to find a doctor?

If you are feeling sick right now and do not have a general practitioner yet, you can call any doctor that is close to you and tell them you are sick. Then, they will tell you if the have the capacity to treat you. Otherwise, they might be able to tell you, who has a capacity for new patients.

It is best to start looking for a general practitioner right after arriving in Siegen.

Here you can find more information on how it works: https://blogs.uni-siegen.de/fit-in-siegen/de/2025/04/14/slr-blog-how-to-find-a-general-practitioner-student-survival-tips/

2. How to get your medicine?

Medicines and Pharmacies

In Germany, some medicines require a prescription, while others can be purchased freely.

Prescription medicines (verschreibungspflichtige Medikamente) are only provided to patients with a prescription from their doctor. They can be acquired at public pharmacies (Apotheken) upon presentation of the physical prescription slip. Please note that Germany’s pharmacy laws are strict, meaning a prescription may be required for medicines that are sold over the counter in other countries. Medicine is not available in supermarkets.

Prescription medicines typically include a co-pay of between 5 to 10 euros, or roughly ten percent of their price. If your medication costs less than 5 euros, you pay for it yourself.

Other medications (such as Ibuprofen, Paracetamol) can be purchased freely in any pharmacy – without prescription.

Pharmacies are typically open from Monday to Friday, although some also open on Saturday mornings as well. On Sundays, pharmacies are usually closed in Germany. The emergency pharmacy service (Apothekennotdienst) is open around the clock. In Siegen you find the actual emergency pharmacy on the following homepage. https://www.apotheken-umschau.de/apotheken-notdienst/stadt/siegen/

There is also a list on every pharmacy door.

3. What to Expect at a Doctor’s Appointment

After your search for a doctor was successful, check their office hours on their homepage. To avoid waiting for the medical treatment you should call before your visit and make an appointment. If you want to go to a specialist, you may have to wait several weeks. You must first visit a general practitioner, as a referral is required to see the specialist.

1. 1. Please arrive on time for your appointment.
   2. At the reception you will need to present your health insurance card.
   3. If you are visiting a specialist you will also need the referral from the general practitioner.
   4. First of all, as a new patient, you will have to fill out a personal medical questionnaire every time. This questionnaire is mostly in German only, if you have any difficulties in understanding it, please ask the staff at the front desk.
   5. While filling the form you will typically be sent to a waiting room to wait until called.
   6. Patients with public health insurance do not normally have to pay for standard treatments and can simply leave once they are finished with the consultation and/or have received any necessary prescriptions or referrals.

Your host, Alessa 😊

Health Care in Germany can seem complicated. Thus, here is a short summary for you:

Everybody in Germany is required to have a health insurance. Without a health insurance you cannot receive a visa for Germany. In case a visa is not needed for entrance to Germany, please take care of a travel insurance. Also check your health insurance policy at home, as it may cover the costs for medical treatment in Germany. If you hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), then you are covered by your health insurance provider in Germany. If your health insurance at home does not support medical treatments in Germany, you must insure yourself in Germany.

There are two types of insurance you can choose between:

1. Students that are younger than 30 years and study less than 14 month must use a public health insurance for students. It costs about 110 Euros per month.
2. The second type of insurance is the private health insurance. If you are older as 30 years and haven’t had a public health insurance before, or if you are participant of the Intensive German language course, you must take a private health insurance. It seems cheaper at first glance because the monthly contribution is a lot lower than with a public health insurance. However many treatments are not covered (e.g. complications during pregnancy!) and monthly contributions might increase from month to month; especially after your graduation. So, please check the policy carefully before deciding
3. Also IGeL (individuelle Gesundheitsleistungen) are services not covered by the health insurance, as the insurance provider has classified them as unnecessary. These can include alternative therapies and travel vaccinations, and the patient must pay for these on his or her own.

We recommend you the public health insurance. With this insurance you usually do not pay any standard health treatments. IGeL (individuelle Gesundheitsleistungen) are services not covered by the health insurance. You have to pay services by your own, which the insurance provider does not classify as necessary. For example alternative therapies and travel vaccinations are IGeL services.

German health insurance providers offer various bonus programs. One example: a bonus booklet for your annually checkup at the dentist. You present the booklet at the dentist and then the doctor confirms your visit. You will receive larger payments from your health insurance if you happen to require a treatment. Some health insurance providers also subsidize prevention courses or gym memberships. They also typically cover the cost of vaccinations, such as for Hepatitis A and B or influenza.

Your SLR Host Alessa 🙂