If your parents are visiting Germany on a tourist visa, getting sick or injured isn't the plan, but when it happens, the process is more complicated than you'd expect. This article gives you a practical reference covering insurance, hospital procedures, and reimbursement.
Step 1: Travel Insurance (Must Do Before Departure)
Parents entering Germany on a visitor visa are not covered by German public health insurance. The visa application itself requires proof of travel health insurance covering at least €30,000 in medical expenses.
Buying travel insurance in China:
- Common domestic travel insurance (e.g., Ping An, China Life overseas policies) usually covers medical treatment in Germany at a lower price
- Short-term health insurance bought in Germany (e.g., MAWISTA, Care Concept): more comprehensive coverage, accepted by German hospitals, but slightly more expensive
- Note: Make sure the policy covers "acute illness and accidental injury." Some low-cost plans only cover accidents, not sudden flare-ups of chronic conditions — read the fine print carefully
The older your parents, the higher the premium, and there may be exclusions for pre-existing conditions. If your parents have chronic illnesses (diabetes, heart disease, etc.), be sure to declare them honestly when applying, otherwise claims may be denied after treatment.
Medical Procedures in Germany
Minor Illness / Non-Emergency
Find a Hausarzt (family doctor / general practitioner). You can call the clinic on behalf of your parents or go with them, explaining that they are visitors with travel insurance and need a consultation. Most clinics accept private patients (Privatpatient). After the visit, you receive a bill and then submit it to the insurance company for reimbursement.
Emergency / Urgent Cases
Go to the nearest hospital's Notaufnahme (emergency department) or call 112 (ambulance). No appointment is needed for emergencies, but you must provide the insurance card or explain on site that they have travel insurance. Costs are usually higher (emergency registration fees, tests), and you pay upfront and claim reimbursement from the insurance company afterward.
Language Barriers
Your parents likely speak only Chinese, and German hospital staff may not speak Chinese or even English. Here are some solutions:
- You accompany them: the most straightforward — you can translate on the spot
- Translation apps: Google Translate's real-time translation (camera mode) can help read prescriptions and medical records; voice translation can relay between doctor and patient
- Request hospital interpreter services: some large city hospitals offer Chinese or multilingual interpretation (Dolmetscher) — ask in advance
- Chinese-speaking doctors: some areas in Germany have Chinese doctors. Search local Chinese communities or Google "Chinesisch sprechende Arzt [city name]"
Reimbursement Process
- After treatment, collect all bills and a medical summary (Arztbericht)
- An English summary is best; if only in German, take photos for records
- Contact the travel insurance company and submit the required documents (usually original bills or photos, policy number, treatment records)
- Reimbursement from Chinese insurance companies typically follows a Chinese-language process and may require notarized translations — clarify this in advance to avoid back-and-forth hassle
Medication: Bring from Home vs. Buy in Germany
If your parents take long-term medication (blood pressure, diabetes drugs, etc.), they should bring enough for the entire trip. You can buy medication at German pharmacies, but:
- Many common Chinese medications have no equivalent in Germany
- German drug packaging is in German; ingredients may be similar but brands differ, and substituting on your own is risky
- Prescription drugs require a doctor's prescription
When bringing medication across borders: controlled substances (e.g., strong painkillers, sleeping pills) require a doctor's note translated into English, otherwise they may be confiscated by German customs. Ordinary chronic disease medications (blood pressure, diabetes, statins) are generally fine.
Summary
When parents visit: buy travel insurance that covers medical treatment (including acute episodes of chronic conditions) before departure, keep copies of insurance documents and emergency contact info. If they need to see a doctor, keep all bills and claim reimbursement after returning home. As the bridge between your parents and the German system, knowing the medical procedures will reduce a lot of stress.
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