Notes on making an appointment at a doctor‘s office

Please read the following pages carefully for a better understanding of the booking process, how the health care system is organised and to avoid misunderstandings.

The German health care system:

Here in Germany, it is mandatory to have health insurance, people who work fi nance the health care system. (An amount of their wages is deducted directly for that.) This is a basic principle, with the purpose to provide adequate and appropriate health care for every citizen. If you do not work, your health care is financed by other funds, usually by taxes.

Appointments at a doctors’ office

Structure and organization are very important because a doctor examines many patients a day (sometimes more than 100!), so there are certain time slots for patients, which means: there is a certain time for each patient.

So please: Keep your appointment, be on time or if you cannot make it (only for a very good reason), please cancel the appointment as early as possible, to give somebody else the chance.

Why are you being told this?

Certainly no one does this intentionally but some behaviors are difficult to tolerate in a doctor‘s office, for example it is not okay to arrive hours late (or early) for an appointment and still insist on being treated immediately.

So please arrive on time – 15 minutes before the appointment is fine, of course.

And do not forget to bring your Refudocs documents with you.

Thank you for your patience in reading all this.

But now let’s move forward to the booking process:

You will now been shown doctors near you, with their available appointment times.

Please select a doctor and appointment. And tell us, if you need a translator.