In Germany, medical care is provided by doctors in their surgeries and in hospitals or clinics. If you are sick, you should see a general practitioner. If necessary, he or she will refer you to a specialist. The costs of the medical treatments are covered by health insurance. Medical confidentiality is respected. As a rule, doctors are not allowed to pass on any information about you to others without your consent.

- Do you receive financial support from the social welfare office? Please apply to them to have the costs of medical           treatment  covered. You will receive a document from the social welfare office to present at the doctor's surgery prior to treatment. The  costs of the treatment will then be billed to the social welfare office

- Have you received a health insurance billing card? Present this card to the doctor before receiving medical treatment. The cost of the treatment will then be billed to the health insurance company.

Medications

For medications, doctors will give you orders (prescriptions), which you will present at a pharmacy. At the pharmacy, you will only have to pay a small part of the costs yourself; your health insurer will cover the rest. Medications for children and adolescents up to the age of 18 years are free with a doctor’s prescription.

In Germany there are many offers in the long-term care sector that support and care for people in need of long-term care either at home or in corresponding facilities. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania there are care support centres that can advise on all long-term care options and identify individual solutions for specific needs. On the website of the long-term care support centres in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania you can find the longterm care support centres in your area with the corresponding contact details.