AnkyroTravel insuranceGermany
Travel insurance for Germany.
With an EHIC or GHIC, most care in Germany costs little. Private extras, mountain rescue and the flight home are on you. Here is what to check.
The rules
What Germany asks of visitors.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Entry rules change, so check again before you fly.
- EHIC and GHIC: state doctors only
In Germany, go to a doctor marked “Kassenarzt” or “Alle Kassen” and pick a German health fund to bill.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - Hospital needs a referral
Except in an emergency, a doctor must refer you before any hospital treatment.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - Private bills follow the GOÄ
Private doctors bill by the GOÄ fee scale. The usual top rate is 2.3 times the base fee. Going higher, up to 3.5 times, needs a special reason.
Source: gesetze-im-internet.de - Sports: rescue and repatriation
For skiing, climbing, mountain biking or paragliding, your insurance should include mountain rescue, helicopter costs and repatriation.
Source: gov.uk
What care costs
If something goes wrong, this is the bill.
What a visitor pays without insurance. Prices vary by hospital and change every year.
- 10 euros a day in hospital
Adults with an EHIC pay 10 euros a day, for up to 28 days a year. It is not refunded.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - Private extras in full
A single or double room, or treatment by the head doctor, is paid in full by you.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - Medicines and ambulance: 10%
You pay 10% of the cost, at least 5 euros and at most 10 euros. Non-prescription medicines are paid in full.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - A private bill: up to 2.3 times
Each item on a GOÄ bill has a base fee. Most private bills charge 1 to 2.3 times it, and lab work less.
Source: gesetze-im-internet.de
What to look for
Choosing travel cover for Germany.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Getting home from Germany
German health funds pay for care in Germany, not for your trip home. Check the policy names repatriation and its limit.
- Private treatment
A private bill at 2.3 times the GOÄ base fee is normal. Check your plan pays private doctors in full, and directly.
- Ski and mountain cover
Skiing or climbing in the Alps? Check helicopter and mountain rescue are named in the policy.
- Private room and head doctor
If you want a single room or the head doctor, check your plan pays for them. The card never does.
Before you land
Sort these before you fly.
- Call 112
Dial 112 for an ambulance in a life-threatening case. A&E in German is “Notaufnahme”.
- Call 116117 at night
Outside surgery hours, 116117 reaches the duty doctor, free, anywhere in Germany.
- Look for “Alle Kassen” on the door
That sign means the doctor bills a health fund. Without it, you are seen as a private patient under the GOÄ.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Going to a private doctor with an EHIC or GHIC. The card does not pay there.
- 02Paying a GOÄ bill above 2.3 times the base fee without asking what justified it.
- 03Skiing or climbing without rescue cover. Helicopter costs are yours otherwise.
Travel insurance stops when the trip ends, and most visas for living in Germany don’t accept it. See what Germany asks of residents.
Questions
People also ask.
Do I need travel insurance for Germany?+
Only with a Schengen visa. Schengen rules: see our Schengen page. Without a visa, the card still leaves private doctors and the trip home to you.
Does the GHIC work in Germany?+
Yes, with Kassenarzt doctors and their hospitals. Show the card and choose a German health fund. It does not cover private care or repatriation.
How much does a hospital cost in Germany with an EHIC?+
Adults pay 10 euros a day, for up to 28 days a year. Extras like a private room or the head doctor are paid in full.
How much do private doctors charge in Germany?+
They bill by the GOÄ fee scale, usually at up to 2.3 times the base fee. Up to 3.5 times is allowed with a reason.
What number do I call for a doctor in Germany?+
Call 112 in an emergency. Outside surgery hours, call 116117 for the duty doctor.
Other trips
Going somewhere else?
Visiting Singapore? Care is excellent and expensive. Living here and going abroad? MediShield Life does not pay overseas. Here is what to check.
02Schengen visaA Schengen visa needs travel medical cover of at least 30,000 euros, valid in every Schengen country, with repatriation. Here is what passes, and what doesn’t.
03MalaysiaVisiting Malaysia? Public hospitals charge foreigners full price. Living here and going abroad? Your cover at home stays at home. Here is what to check.
04ThailandThailand doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But hospitals want a payment guarantee before they treat you, and private care is not cheap. Here is what to know.
05JapanJapan doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But visitors pay the full bill, and unpaid bills can get you refused entry next time. Here is what to know.
06USA visitorsThe US doesn’t ask visitors for insurance. But a few days in hospital can cost more than a car. Here is what care costs, and what a visitor plan must cover.
07Bali and IndonesiaIndonesia doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But a broken leg in Bali can cost over 160 million rupiah, and serious cases can need a flight out. Here is what to know.
08Dubai and the UAEDubai’s law says visitors must be insured, and the 5-year tourist visa asks for proof. Care is good but private, and an unpaid bill can stop you leaving.
09VietnamVietnam doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But private hospitals cost a lot, and a motorbike crash can stop you leaving the country. Here is what to know.
10SpainPublic care in Spain is free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, dental care and the flight home are not. Here is what the card leaves to you in Spain.
11MexicoMexico doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Private hospitals in big cities are good, but most want payment first, and Medicare won’t pay.
12FranceCare in France is not free, even with an EHIC or GHIC. You pay upfront, claim back part, and the flight home is never covered. Here is what to check.
13ItalyThe EHIC and GHIC work in Italy’s public system, but you still pay fees, most medicines and any private doctor. Here is the Italian bill the card leaves you.
15PortugalPublic care in Portugal is mostly free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, medicines and the flight home are not. Here is what to check before you fly to Portugal.
16Costa RicaCosta Rica doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Only first emergency care is free, private clinics want payment first, and extensions have their own rules.
17ColombiaMost tourists need no visa and no policy for Colombia. If you do need a visa, insurance is part of it. Private clinics want payment first.
18South KoreaKorea doesn’t ask tourists for insurance, and the national scheme is not for short trips. Hospitals expect you to pay on the spot, then claim.
19Australia working holidayThe 417 and 462 visas don’t make you buy health insurance. But you pay every medical bill yourself, unless your passport gets you limited Medicare. Here is who is covered and what to buy.
20New Zealand working holidayMost working holiday visas for New Zealand require medical and hospital insurance for your whole stay, and you can be asked for proof when you land. Here is who is exempt and what to buy.