Do I need a Hausarzt if I already have TK or AOK?

Yes. Public insurance pays for care; it does not assign you a doctor. You pick a Hausarzt (or go to different GPs, though one regular practice is easier). Bring your eGK. For choosing the insurer itself, see the TK vs AOK guide.

When do I call 116117 vs 112?

112 is for life-threatening emergencies (chest pain, severe bleeding, unconsciousness). 116117 is the medical on-call service and appointment line for statutory insurance: evenings, weekends, and help finding a GP, eye doctor, gynaecologist, paediatrician, or first psychotherapist session.

How do I get a specialist appointment?

Start with the Hausarzt. Most specialists need an Überweisung plus a 12-character Vermittlungscode from the referring practice. GPs, ophthalmologists, gynaecologists, paediatricians, and a first psychotherapy session can be booked on 116117 without that code.

How does Krankschreibung work for students?

Tell the employer or university the same day you cannot attend. The doctor issues an electronic Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung (eAU) to the insurer; many employers pull it digitally. Paper yellow forms are mostly gone. Student GKV usually has no Krankengeld. Werkstudenten may have continued pay under the Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz after four weeks of employment.

Can I find an English speaking doctor Germany?

Yes, especially in large cities. Search your insurer's doctor finder with language filters, or ask 116117. Treat that as a convenience, not a requirement. Many practices work in German with a translation app. Do not delay care waiting for a native English speaker.

Health

How to Find a Hausarzt in Germany: GP, 116117, eGK (2026)

How to find a Hausarzt after TK or AOK: pick a GP, use 116117 vs 112, get eAU sick notes, and search for an English speaking doctor Germany.

TL;DR: How to find a Hausarzt after public insurance: pick a family doctor (GP), not the ER. Register with a practice near campus, take the eGK (Gesundheitskarte) to every visit, call 116117 for out-of-hours care and appointment search, and call 112 only for life-threatening emergencies. A GP can issue an electronic sick note (eAU) and a referral (Überweisung) to most specialists. An English speaking doctor Germany search is a labelled convenience in large cities, not a city directory. This guide does not compare TK and AOK.

Dev Adnani

Updated October 12, 2026

12 min read

How to Find a Hausarzt in Germany: GP, 116117, eGK (2026)

How to find a Hausarzt (a family doctor Germany) after TK, AOK, or another public Krankenkasse: pick a GP, not an emergency department. Insurance membership is the ticket. The Hausarzt is how you actually get sick notes, referrals, and follow-up.

If you still need to pick an insurer, that is a separate article: TK vs AOK. This page starts after you have a card.

TL;DR

Topic	Quick answer
First step	Find a Hausarzt near home or campus
Card	Bring the eGK to every visit
Out of hours	116117 (on-call and appointments)
Emergency	112 only when life is at risk
Sick note	Electronic eAU; tell employer the same day
Specialist	Überweisung + Vermittlungscode in most cases

How to find a Hausarzt (not a city guide)

You are allowed to switch GPs. In practice, one regular Hausarzt keeps your file and writes cleaner referrals.

How to find one:

Use your insurer's Arztfinder, the 116117 search, or gesund.bund.de.
Filter for Hausarzt / Allgemeinmedizin near your postcode.
Call or use Doctolib / the practice site. Ask if they take new GKV patients.
Bring passport or residence permit, eGK, and (first visit) your insurance confirmation if the card has not arrived.

English-speaking practices show up in large cities as a labelled example, not a directory. Search the finder for "Englisch" if you need that. Campus medical services sometimes offer first-contact hours in English; they are not a substitute for a registered Hausarzt when you need ongoing care.

116117 Terminservice: appointments and nights

116117 Terminservice (116117 Germany) is the statutory appointment service and the medical on-call line (ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst). Call 116117 or use the website and app.

KBV (the association of statutory doctors) states you can book a first appointment without a Vermittlungscode for:

Hausarzt
Augenarzt (ophthalmologist)
Frauenarzt (gynaecologist)
Kinder- und Jugendarzt
First psychotherapist session (Psychotherapeutische Sprechstunde)

For other specialists you need an Überweisung and a 12-character code from the referring practice. Appointment service targets: a GP within five working days, a specialist within four weeks when the urgency code supports it. Source: kbv.de, Terminservicestellen.

Evenings, nights, and weekends, 116117 points you to an on-call practice instead of the ER for problems that cannot wait until Monday but are not life-threatening.

112 vs 116117 Germany

112 vs 116117 Germany is the split international students mix up most often.

Number	Use when
112	Life-threatening emergency: no breathing, severe bleeding, suspected stroke or heart attack, unconsciousness
116117	Sick after hours, need a doctor soon, or need help finding a GKV appointment
Practice line	Repeat prescriptions, results, non-urgent follow-up

Walking into Notaufnahme with a cold burns hours and does not speed a sick note for your Werkstudent job.

Elektronische Gesundheitskarte eGK

Elektronische Gesundheitskarte eGK is the chip card your insurer posts. Take it to every practice and pharmacy claim. Without it, the practice may treat you as a private payer for that visit and bill you until the insurer confirms coverage.

If the card is delayed, bring the membership confirmation PDF. For the card arriving in the first month, see first 30 days.

Krankschreibung eAU students

Krankschreibung eAU students (a sick note Germany) replaced the old yellow paper pad for most cases from 2023. The electronic Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung is the form employers expect.

Tell the employer or seminar the same day you cannot attend. Do not wait for the PDF.
See the Hausarzt (or 116117 on-call) in time for the employer's deadline (often day 3; check the contract).
The practice sends the eAU to the Krankenkasse. Many employers retrieve it digitally. Ask whether they still want a printout.

Student public insurance generally does not pay Krankengeld (§ 44 SGB V). A Werkstudent can still have continued wage under the Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz for up to six weeks of the same illness after four weeks of employment. Confirm with HR, not a forum screenshot. Payslip lines are in German payslip explained.

Überweisung Facharzt Germany

Überweisung Facharzt Germany is the referral slip. The Hausarzt writes it when you need a specialist who is not on the 116117 open list. The practice then issues the Vermittlungscode so 116117 or the specialist can book you.

Keep copies of lab results. If a clinic asks for a Überweisung that is "too old", call the Hausarzt for a new one rather than paying privately by default.

English speaking doctor Germany

An English speaking doctor Germany search works via insurer filters and 116117. Use it when language would block consent or history. It is not required for a valid appointment. Pharmacies and Hausarzt reception often run in German; a translation app plus the eGK is enough for many visits.