Overview
Germany provides free healthcare to its population via a statutory contribution system,
which is broadly classified as a universal structured subdivided into two primary types of
health insurance: sickness fund and private health. The working population earns less
than fifty thousand euros a year in contributions to the sickness fund at a common rate, paid for by both the employer and employee. Every citizen is entitled to that sickness fund, with local municipalities subsidizing social welfare beneficiaries, which are usually benefiting from unemployment insurance too. Now, students, civil servants, and people making more than €50,000 per annum can opt for private health insurance, which allows for the existence of a private healthcare system.
The rise of medical tourism has allowed Germany’s nickname of “The Hospital of Europe” to take on a whole new dimension. Its high number of doctors and hospitals have given it abundant capacity, which has in turn become the basis for a successful medical tourism profile. Germany’s capacity and high level of healthcare proficiency make it a potential destination for advanced or lifesaving procedures, while its lack of a wait time relative to other European countries make it attractive for elective procedures. At No. 12 in the updated MTI, Germany certainly does not rank poorly as an option for medical tourism, but it does rank behind many of its European peers. It scored well in many key categories, including Quality of Care, where it ranked fifth overall – first among all European destinations.
*Based on the 2020 – 2021 Global MTI (Medical Tourism Index) Report published by the Medical Tourism Association.*
than fifty thousand euros a year in contributions to the sickness fund at a common rate, paid for by both the employer and employee. Every citizen is entitled to that sickness fund, with local municipalities subsidizing social welfare beneficiaries, which are usually benefiting from unemployment insurance too. Now, students, civil servants, and people making more than €50,000 per annum can opt for private health insurance, which allows for the existence of a private healthcare system.
The rise of medical tourism has allowed Germany’s nickname of “The Hospital of Europe” to take on a whole new dimension. Its high number of doctors and hospitals have given it abundant capacity, which has in turn become the basis for a successful medical tourism profile. Germany’s capacity and high level of healthcare proficiency make it a potential destination for advanced or lifesaving procedures, while its lack of a wait time relative to other European countries make it attractive for elective procedures. At No. 12 in the updated MTI, Germany certainly does not rank poorly as an option for medical tourism, but it does rank behind many of its European peers. It scored well in many key categories, including Quality of Care, where it ranked fifth overall – first among all European destinations.
*Based on the 2020 – 2021 Global MTI (Medical Tourism Index) Report published by the Medical Tourism Association.*