Hospitals in Germany

Germany has a large number of well-equipped and modern hospitals (Krankenhäuser), all offering a high standard of medical care. Whether you have an appointment and want to know what to expect, are preparing to visit a friend or relative, or are in need of emergency care, our guide to hospitals in Germany explains what you need to know. 

Types of hospitals in Germany

There are more than 1.600 hospitals in Germany, according to the Ministry of Health. Although they can be split various different ways according to size and specialisms, generally speaking there are three main types of hospital in the German healthcare system:

Public hospitals (öffentliche Krankenhäuser)

Public hospitals (öffentliche Krankenhäuser) are publicly-funded, either by the federal government, federal states, or municipalities. This type of hospital includes teaching hospitals affiliated with German universities. 

Public hospitals make up around 30% of all hospitals in Germany but provide 50% of hospital beds. They provide general care and typically also have an emergency care department, but may have longer waiting lists.   

Private hospitals (private Krankenhäuser)

Private hospitals (private Krankenhäuser/Krankenhäuser in privater Trägerschaft) are smaller in size and offer more specialist services. They therefore typically charge higher costs and are mostly used by patients with private health insurance. 

Non-profit hospitals (freigemeinnützige Krankenhäuser)

Non-profit hospitals (freigemeinnützige Krankenhäuser) are run by religious, voluntary and charitable organisations such as the German Red Cross. They do not seek to make a profit but charge for their services to cover their operating costs.

Can you choose your own hospital in Germany?

In general, yes, as a patient you are free to choose which hospital you go to in order to receive treatment. However, how much choice you have is determined by your health insurance. 

Each federal state chooses which local hospitals are included in its so-called “hospital plan”. Included hospitals can then provide medical care to people with statutory health insurance, and the cost of care will be covered by the health insurance provider (Krankenkasse). You can receive treatment in any hospital that has been approved to treat people with statutory health insurance. 

Private hospitals, however, only treat private or self-funded patients. They have contracts with private health insurance providers that stipulate which services are covered by insurance, and which aren’t. 

If you have statutory health insurance and elect to receive treatment in a private hospital, your health insurance may not cover your care. If they do, they will only cover up to the maximum amount that the treatment would have cost in an approved hospital. 

Before selecting a hospital for treatment, confirm with your health insurance provider that they will cover the cost of your care. 

New system: Hospitals with different care levels

As of 2024, Germany is overhauling its hospital system and re-categorising hospitals according to their size, number of specialist departments, and the type of care they can offer, as follows:

• Primary care: hospitals that offer treatments related to internal medicine and general surgery.
• Standard care: hospitals that have additional specialist departments, such as gynecology, obstetrics or orthopedics.
• Priority care: hospitals that have an even wider range of specialist departments, such as pediatrics or neurology.
• Maximum care: hospitals that offer the widest range of services and treat extremely rare or serious conditions. 

From the end of 2026, all hospitals in Germany will be assigned a certain care level. In future, hospitals will only be able to offer services or treatments that align with their assigned care level. Patients will then be referred to a specific type of hospital based on the care required. 

Find your closest hospital in Germany

When your doctor refers you to treatment at a hospital, they will typically include a list of suitable nearby hospitals in their referral letter. However, you are not bound to this list.  

You can see a list of hospitals in Germany, along with billing data and quality information, on the Bundes-Klinik-Atlas.

How to get hospital treatment in Germany

In Germany, there are two ways to receive hospital treatment:

• Via the accident and emergency room (for emergencies only)
• With a referral from a doctor (for routine matters) 

Emergency treatment in Germany

If you have a medical emergency in Germany, you should: 

• Call 112 in the case of life-threatening emergencies
• Otherwise, call your GP in the first instance
• Call the non-emergency hotline 116 117 if you cannot get hold of your regular GP

Any of the above options can call you an ambulance to take you to hospital if it is deemed necessary. 

You can attend the accident and emergency area of a hospital (Notaufnahme). Most hospitals have emergency departments. When you arrive, you need to check in. You will be asked about your symptoms and your health insurance coverage. 

You’ll then undergo a triage to determine how urgently you need to be treated. Depending on your symptoms, you may receive a physical examination, scan or other kind of test. The doctor or nurse will then determine whether you can be treated on the spot, sent home for treatment, or admitted to hospital. 

Visiting a German hospital if you have a referral or appointment

Unless it is an emergency, you usually only access a German hospital with a referral from a doctor. With your referral, you can then select a hospital and make an appointment with them. 

To make an appointment, either call the hospital or visit its website. You’ll also need to provide your health insurance card. Some insurance companies let you make appointments with hospitals directly via an app. 

Once you’ve booked your appointment, the hospital will contact you to let you know what to expect and where to go on the day of your appointment. Make sure you arrive in plenty of time, as it can sometimes be difficult to find your way to the correct department. 

Staying in German hospital

German hospitals generally prefer outpatient treatment (where you go into the hospital for a procedure and then recuperate at home), but you may need to stay overnight if, for instance, you’ve had surgery or require close monitoring. 

Your appointment confirmation will let you know when and where to go for your surgery. After your surgery or procedure, you’ll be transferred to a ward to rest. Although some hospitals do have private rooms, depending on your condition it’s likely you’ll be in a shared ward with between one and three other patients. Shared wards are usually single-sex in Germany.

The lack of privacy in German hospitals sometimes surprises foreigners; the doctor won’t necessarily leave the room if you need to get undressed, and there are typically no curtains separating the hospital beds. 

If you would like more privacy, you may be able to pay extra for a private room, but it depends on availability. Most hospital beds have their own private phones and televisions, but you will be charged to use them. 

The hospital will provide bedding, towels and medication, but you should bring your own: 

• Prescription medications (if applicable)
• Nightwear, toothbrush, toothpaste and other toiletries
• Warm socks and/or slippers
• Underwear and spare clothes
• Glasses or contact lenses 

Children’s hospitals

Most hospitals in Germany have children’s wards and there are also special children’s hospitals, which provide more facilities to keep children entertained while in hospital or to help them with school work during their stay. Some children’s hospitals and wards are able to accommodate parents overnight.

Hospital costs in Germany

Unlike some hospitals in other countries around the world, German hospitals do not charge patients for individual elements of their hospital treatment in an itemised list. Instead, hospital care is paid for through flat-rate fees. 

Essentially, the hospital receives a flat-rate payment for each patient from the insurance company, with the amount determined by the patient’s medical condition. The cost can also be altered by other factors, for instance if the condition is particularly severe or unusual. 

Hospital treatment in Germany is almost entirely covered by health insurance. If you have statutory health insurance, you are expected to cover a co-payment of €10 per day in hospital, for a maximum of 28 days per year. Children under 18 are exempt from this charge.

Patients who are privately insured will either bill their health insurance company directly or pay first and then claim back the cost. If you do not have health insurance, you will have to pay upfront.

Being discharged from hospital

When the time comes for you to be discharged from hospital, this will typically happen in the morning or around lunchtime. You’ll receive a discharge letter containing your personal information, medical findings, doctor’s details, and a schedule of follow-up treatments and medications. 

If needed, you might be transported home in an ambulance, otherwise you will need to arrange your own transport. Your insurance company may reimburse the cost of taking a taxi home. 

You’ll receive a more detailed letter in the post a few weeks after you are discharged. Your regular GP will also be informed of your discharge and should contact you regarding follow-up appointments, if required.

Visiting someone in hospital in Germany

German hospitals generally set their own visiting hours, and it’s not uncommon for visiting hours to even vary from department to department within the same hospital, anywhere between 8am and 9pm. It’s therefore a good idea to check with the relevant department before planning a visit. 

If you’re in hospital and someone travelling from abroad wishes to visit you, there may be options for them to be provided with family accommodation.