Germany: If I’m sick and want an appointment asap I just go. They tell you to call in advance but if you do they give you an appointment for another day and if you just rock up they tell you to sit down and wait for the doc. Which can take anywhere between 5 minutes and 5 hours, at least that’s about the range I’ve experienced. Oh and not sure if that’s only a thing here but it’s common to awkwardly greet the other patients when you get into the waiting area.
Seeing the doc would be similar to the US I guess, except there’s no need to discuss money. Doctors shake hands here, maybe that’s different from you but Idk. After the appointment you check in with the front desk again to fetch any prescriptions (although those are mostly digital since last year) and notes you may need for work. Thats also the time to book a follow up appointment if you need one.
Cost depends on what you got. Getting extensive bloodwork or some less “necessary” exams for example aren’t covered by insurance. There’s a flat 5€ fee for prescription meds and 10€ per day in a clinic. If you don’t have enough money you can let the insurance company know and they’ll cover some of those fees too.
Also Germany: I live rural. Most times I’ve gone I see the doctor itv takes than 30 minutes, but it depends on who else is there obviously. First come first served.
Interesting that they ask you to call in advance. I’ve never had that. We can, if we want an after midday appointment for something specific.
Yes, the awkward “Moin”. Definitely!
There used to be a 15 euro per quarter charge when using the local doctor. They scrapped that a few years ago.
All the blood work I’ve had has been free. But I’m not sure what you meant by extensive. I take a lot of anti biotics, so they check my liver numbers occasionally.
There’s a flat 5€ fee for prescription meds and 10€ per day in a clinic
Jesus… As an American, we already pay $1,200 a month for the privilege of paying $50+ just to walk into the doctors office. Forget prescriptions or testing…
We do also get money taken directly out of our pay check for health insurance. So it isn’t just the 5 euro fee. But I think it manages to be considerably less, since everyone is required to have insurance. I think that brings down the cost for everyone.
Germany: If I’m sick and want an appointment asap I just go. They tell you to call in advance but if you do they give you an appointment for another day and if you just rock up they tell you to sit down and wait for the doc. Which can take anywhere between 5 minutes and 5 hours, at least that’s about the range I’ve experienced. Oh and not sure if that’s only a thing here but it’s common to awkwardly greet the other patients when you get into the waiting area.
Seeing the doc would be similar to the US I guess, except there’s no need to discuss money. Doctors shake hands here, maybe that’s different from you but Idk. After the appointment you check in with the front desk again to fetch any prescriptions (although those are mostly digital since last year) and notes you may need for work. Thats also the time to book a follow up appointment if you need one.
Cost depends on what you got. Getting extensive bloodwork or some less “necessary” exams for example aren’t covered by insurance. There’s a flat 5€ fee for prescription meds and 10€ per day in a clinic. If you don’t have enough money you can let the insurance company know and they’ll cover some of those fees too.
Yeah, I’ll pass sitting in a small room with more sick people.
Don’t you think if this was an issue we’d have addressed it by now? 😅
Also Germany: I live rural. Most times I’ve gone I see the doctor itv takes than 30 minutes, but it depends on who else is there obviously. First come first served.
Interesting that they ask you to call in advance. I’ve never had that. We can, if we want an after midday appointment for something specific.
Yes, the awkward “Moin”. Definitely!
There used to be a 15 euro per quarter charge when using the local doctor. They scrapped that a few years ago.
All the blood work I’ve had has been free. But I’m not sure what you meant by extensive. I take a lot of anti biotics, so they check my liver numbers occasionally.
But yeah, generally a similar experience to you.
Jesus… As an American, we already pay $1,200 a month for the privilege of paying $50+ just to walk into the doctors office. Forget prescriptions or testing…
We do also get money taken directly out of our pay check for health insurance. So it isn’t just the 5 euro fee. But I think it manages to be considerably less, since everyone is required to have insurance. I think that brings down the cost for everyone.