Most practices are on the smaller side, and they are usually on the first floor of buildings with apartments. If you don't have insurance, be prepared to pay between 20 and 30 Euros to see a general physician, and at least 50 Euros for a specialist. The cost of seeing a doctor is much lower than in the US (if you are American) and is fairly comparable to other countries with nationalized healthcare. If you aren't comfortable or don't think that you can communicate through your pain or discomfort, make sure you bring someone else with you to visit the doctor. You are going to need to use German with administrative staff and nurses. Don't expect the other staff members to be as adept with English though.

This doesn't mean you don't need to know German - you should definitely make an effort to talk to them in German if you can - but if you are in really bad shape, you can focus on stating what's wrong. The vast majority of German doctors speak English. While every doctor has their own approach, there are some fairly universal aspects of German doctors. You are also likely aware that every area is different, and that is certainly true when you go to a different country.

Once you are done brushing up on those, you are ready to start getting into the more complicated world of health terms.Īs an English speaker, you definitely have your own perception of what doctors know and how they operate. Learning just a few basics will give you what you need to know for a basic interaction with a medical professional.īefore diving into the specifics of the medical terms and phrases you need to know, make sure that you know the basics of the German language and how to ask directions so you can find a doctor. However, you can't control everything that happens.Īlthough you hope to be healthy while you are abroad, you should plan to know how to talk to a doctor if one is needed. You plan for so many different aspects of your journey and stay. Going to a new country is incredibly exciting.

Comon used german words in english