Find Medical Treatment In Germany with Make Medical Trip
When a country is known throughout the world as the ‘Hospital of Europe’, it makes sense to trust the medical facilities and professionals within it. Germany differs from the rest of the medical travel destinations as the treatments here are not as inexpensive, but are very effective and of the highest quality.
There are a variety of medical treatments that patients can avail in Germany, with oncological, urological and gynecological conditions being the most treated. Combine this with the clean atmosphere and the rich, typically European cultural heritage, and it becomes obvious that for an extremely effective treatment and a rewarding travel experience, Germany is the ideal destination.
What practical information should I know before getting treatment in Germany?
Language requirements
It is common for large hospitals in Germany to employ multilingual staff and interpreters to help international patients, largely as a response to receiving patients from Russia and the Middle East. Also, many doctors and clinic staff can comfortably communicate with patients in English. Do check beforehand whether or not this is going to be an issue – your health shouldn’t be put at risk because of a communication problem. (Canopy Speak is a mobile app that allows patients to communicate with doctors in more than 15 languages). Patients may find some language issues outside the clinic environment, but the good news is that Germans are generally very patient (and used to tourists!). Many doctors and dentists from around the world live and practice in Germany, so it’s worthwhile to research online to see if your language is spoken at a specific hospital.
Are German hospitals good quality, and are the staff qualified?
Germany’s healthcare standards are among the best in the world, and the hospitals country-wide are of the highest quality. One thing to note is that all patients are treated equally in Germany, so don’t arrive thinking you’ll be treated like royalty because you’ve paid upfront (sometimes quite a significant amount) for your treatment. That being said, extra support in the form of a personal medical assistant is always an option for patients with complex conditions.
Staff in German hospitals are highly qualified and often have considerable experience in their specialization, either through research or practise, or both. German medical staff can seem either very friendly or quite straightforward in their manner, depending on where you’re from. Either way, the doctors and nurses in Germany will maintain a high level of professionalism when interacting with you.
What city and which hospital should I choose for treatment in Germany?
After costs, hospitals and hospital locations are usually next on patients’ minds when looking at treatment options in Germany. But there’s no easy answer to the above question: hospitals should always be selected based on your individual circumstances.
One thing to note: A common myth about German hospital locations is that ones in former West Germany are of a higher quality than those in former East Germany. This is not true – medical facilities across the country adhere to the same high standards.
Medical visa
Getting a medical visa is just like getting a tourist visa. You will have to apply ahead of time to receive your visa in time, and our members can assist patients in getting a visa invitation letter from the hospital. While it normally takes about seven days to obtain a medical visa, in the case of urgent cases, hospitals speed up the process.
How much does medical treatment cost in Germany?
Understanding the medical procedure costs is just one piece of the puzzle when seeking treatment abroad. To plan your budget, you also need to think about things like transport, accommodation, insurance coverage, and those pesky (and often unwelcome) additional fees that sometimes occur.
Would you like a quick price quote for a medical procedure in Germany? Click Here
Medical procedure costs
The first thing you need to know is that many hospitals in Germany request the full treatment cost to be paid in full prior to receiving treatment.
Unlike many other medical tourism destinations, German hospitals rarely advertise their treatment prices. But the German government fixes the prices of procedures in a large catalogue known as G-DRG (German Diagnostic-Related Group) codes, taking into account the costs of treatment, medicine, and materials.
Private patients and overseas patients can access healthcare based on G-DRG codes but can pay as much as twice the amount listed due to additional optional private-patient fees known as GOÄ fees. Every patient has the right to be treated without GOÄ fees, and the hospital can charge these fees only if a patient signs a separate contract (in addition to the original treatment contract). Treatment prices can be much closer to the G-DRG-listed price if, for instance, patients do not seek a private room and choose not to be treated by a chief doctor or specialist.
As a comparison, Germany’s G-DRG-based treatment costs are considerably lower than treatment costs in the US, similar to prices across Western Europe, and higher than prices in developing nations like India.
Patients are provided with a detailed invoice one-to-two weeks after they are discharged from the hospital. If the final treatment cost was lower than estimated (as is often the case), the outstanding amount is transferred back to the patient’s bank account. In rare cases (e.g. due to complications or an extended stay), the hospital’s final invoice will require an additional payment in the form of a bank transfer.
Additional medical costs
Additional costs are always a possibility when receiving medical treatment, but many patients who travel to Germany often don’t mind the extra expense because they know Germany offers world-class medical care.
If you’re worried about costs, the most important thing here is to make sure your clinic or hospital covers as much as possible in the treatment plan it sends to you. A fully detailed treatment plan will also include your expected length of stay, allowing you to budget for things like food, transport, and accommodation.
Another important question to think about is whether or not your treatment requires follow-up sessions at the hospital or with a physical therapist. As a medical tourist, this is very important as costs can quickly mount if you have to return to Germany several times for follow-up treatments or if you have to stay for several months of recovery.
Finally, keep in mind that you may receive post-treatment medical records and documents from the hospital, and (unless you’ve arranged otherwise) these will likely be in German – so you would need to pay to have them translated to your own language.
Frequently ask questions about traveling to Germany for medical care:
This section covers all the important things you need to know when considering traveling to Germany for medical treatment. It’s based on the most common questions Make Medical Trip receives from patients thinking about receiving medical care in Germany.
- How much does treatment cost in Germany? Less than in the US.
- What city and which hospital should you choose in Germany? Hospitals across Germany have similar quality standards, but different specializations. Choose a hospital that best suits your treatment.
- What is the quality of hospitals in Germany? Very high.
- Are staff in German hospitals qualified? Yes, often with many years of experience in their medical specialty.
- What practical information should I know before getting treatment in Germany? Consider the language barrier, visa requirements and how to organize your treatment.
If we missed anything or if you have any questions or comments, contact us at [email protected].