• In many countries, it is customary to first go to the hospital if you get ill. In Germany, you only go to the hospital in case of emergencies (Emergency Numbers) or at night/on the weekends, when the doctors‘ offices are closed.


• Everybody should have a general practitioner (GP). You should find one for yourself before you get ill. Doctors usually have large signs outside their offices, look around in your neighbourhood. You could also check online, for example using www.ulmer-aerzte.de (only in German!), or in the yellow pages, however, the best way to find a GP is probably by recommendation from friends or neighbours.


• The dental clinic of Ulm University (only in German!) offers a wide range of dental treatments. A special offer is the student treatment course, in which the treatments are carried out for a reduced price by students under the supervision of licensed dentists.

• In order to treat patients of public health insurance companies, doctors need to have a contract with those companies. On their signs it usually says “Alle Kassen”. If it says “Privatpraxis”, clients of public health insurance companies will be treated like private patients, i.e. they have to pay their bills themselves, but will only get a small part refunded by their respective insurance company.


• Please bring your health insurance card or card every time you go to see a doctor or dentist.


• For in-hospital treatments, you have to make a co-payment of €10.00 a day (up to 28 days annually).

• You can get prescription and non-prescription medication from pharmacies (Apotheke) in Germany. They are often located near GPs.
• The co-payment for prescribed drugs is €5.00 to €10.00 in most cases.

• Doctors in Ulm (only in German!)
• Pharmacy search portal (only in German!)