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RAB: Private Doctor on Call

Costs: Home Visit & Private On-Call Doctor in Hamburg

The cost of a private medical home visit from RAB Arztbesuche is a fee billed under the GOÄ (Germany's official medical fee schedule), which in Hamburg scales up to a 3.5× fee multiplier depending on the service and time of day.

We bill exclusively under the GOÄ, transparently, traceably and in full compliance with private health insurance requirements. Privately and travel-insured patients are reimbursed in full (€0 out-of-pocket share with a fully reimbursable tariff); statutory-insured self-payers typically pay €150–300. The same prices apply in the evening, at night and on weekends, when we come to you as a private on-call doctor service.

Susanne Reiche

Medically reviewed by Susanne Reiche

Consultant in internal medicine, geriatrics and palliative care, private physician

Last updated:

At a glance

Privately insured and travel-insured patients: €0 out-of-pocket on a fully reimbursable plan. Statutory patients as self-payers: €150–300 depending on service. Billed per the German GOÄ scale (1× to 3.5× multiplier). A doctor is on-site in 60–90 minutes, daily 6 am to midnight, including nights and weekends.

In detail

The three paths compared

Privately insured (incl. Beihilfe), travel insurance or self-payer: the table below shows what actually remains for you after GOÄ billing, out-of-pocket share, reimbursement and paperwork per insurance route.

Privately insured

Beihilfe

€0* Out-of-pocket in the end
  • usually in full (incl. Beihilfe + top-up private insurance)
  • Single point of submission
More details
Covered GOÄ multiplier
2.3×, justified 3.5×
Paperwork
low
Upfront price transparency
irrelevant (reimbursed)

Statutory insurance

Self-payer

€150–300 Out-of-pocket in the end
  • price range by phone in advance
More details
Reimbursement
statutory insurance does not reimburse
Covered GOÄ multiplier
no fixed price; price range by phone
Single point of submission
n/a
Paperwork
none

Travel insurance

Tourists & internationals

€0 Out-of-pocket in the end
  • travel/intl. insurer usually in full
  • invoice to insurer
More details
Covered GOÄ multiplier
per policy, usually up to 2.3×
Paperwork
low
Upfront price transparency
irrelevant (reimbursed)

* with a fully reimbursable tariff; tariffs with a deductible: out-of-pocket share possible. The Beihilfe rate varies by federal state and pay grade. Self-payer costs are tax-deductible as extraordinary expenses (§ 33 EStG).

Reimbursement

How to submit your invoice

You pay the GOÄ invoice on site (cash or card) and then submit it to your payer; the route differs by insurance type.

Privately insured (PKV)

Submit the original invoice directly to your private health insurer, via app, customer portal or post. Reimbursement usually within 1–3 weeks, typically 100 % of the reimbursable amount. Keep a copy for your records.

Civil servants (Beihilfe)

Submit the invoice separately to your Beihilfe office and your top-up private health insurance. Beihilfe covers typically 50–80 % depending on federal state and pay grade; your top-up insurance covers the rest. Mind your Beihilfe office's submission deadlines.

Travel / international insurance

Tourists and international guests submit the GOÄ invoice to their travel insurer. We provide an English receipt on request. Check in advance that your policy covers outpatient emergency treatment.

Statutory insured (GKV)? The GKV does not reimburse private house calls. Keep the invoice, it can reduce your tax bill as an extraordinary expense under § 33 EStG.
Transparent billing

How is a home visit billed under the GOÄ?

A private home visit is not billed at a flat rate but under Germany's official medical fee schedule, the GOÄ (Gebührenordnung für Ärzte): every individual service has its own item number with a fixed point value (€0.0582873 per point), multiplied by a fee factor, normally the 2.3× rate, and up to 3.5× with written justification for exceptional effort (§ 5(2) GOÄ).

Example invoice of 26 Apr 2026

Example GOÄ invoice: Neurological assessment, 26 Apr 2026
GOÄ item Service Amount
50 Home visit (private home-visit service, day/night) €65.28
4 Collateral medical history €29.49
7 Full physical examination of at least one organ system €21.45
800 Detailed neurological examination €26.14
602 Pulse oximetry €15.95
75 Detailed written medical and findings report €17.43
Travel allowance, 5–10 km (shared, 2 patients) €5.11
H Surcharge: Saturday, Sunday or public holiday €19.82
Total €200.67

Real, anonymised example invoices, not binding quotes. Actual items, factors and amounts depend on the scope of care. The 2.3× factor is the standard statutory rate (threshold under § 5(2) GOÄ); anything above it (up to 3.5×) may only be billed with written justification. Totals marked “≈” are summed from the listed items.

These examples range from about €200 to €350. A routine daytime visit typically lands at €150–300; with evening, night, weekend or public-holiday surcharges (GOÄ letters B/C/D) or complex care such as infusions or palliative coordination it can run higher. Privately and travel-insured patients are reimbursed in full (€0 out-of-pocket share with a fully reimbursable tariff); statutory self-payers carry this amount. We give you the expected price range by phone in advance.

Process & waiting time for the house call

How quickly is the doctor there?

As a rule, the doctor arrives within 60 to 90 minutes of the telephone request. At quieter times of day or with short travel distances in central districts such as Eimsbüttel, Altona or Hamburg-Nord, arrival is often faster; at busy periods such as Sunday morning, public holidays or during flu waves, the waiting time can be somewhat longer. The dispatch team gives a realistic time estimate at the time of booking. By comparison, the statutory on-call service can involve waiting times of two to four hours, because house calls there are prioritised by urgency.

The house call in five steps

  1. Getting in touch: by phone on 040 524 729 688 or via online booking ; your request is taken directly by medical staff.
  2. Initial assessment: a physician briefly assesses your condition by phone and states the expected price range before a doctor sets off.
  3. Travel: usually 60–90 minutes, to your home, hotel or workplace.
  4. Examination and treatment: history, physical examination, vital signs; if needed medication, sick note or further diagnostics.
  5. Billing: a transparent GOÄ invoice, cash or card; privately insured patients submit it to their insurer.

What services are possible on site?

The physician brings diagnostic devices, dressing material and common medications. Possible measures include blood pressure, blood sugar and oxygen measurement, ECG, rapid tests (for example COVID-19 or influenza), injections and infusions, wound care and pain therapy. Prescriptions, certificates, referrals and the electronic sick note (eAU) can be issued. X-ray or CT are not possible at home but can be arranged if needed, as can inpatient admission.

For life-threatening symptoms such as unconsciousness, suspected heart attack or stroke, severe shortness of breath or heavy bleeding, always call 112 immediately. For acute but non-life-threatening complaints, the free statutory on-call service on 116 117 is responsible. Which route fits when is covered in the guide On-call service 116 117 in Hamburg.

How the GOÄ invoice is put together

GOÄ fee numbers: visit, consultation and surcharges

The core of every house-call invoice is GOÄ fee no. 50 for the visit: 18.65 € at the single rate, 42.90 € at the standard factor of 2.3, and 65.28 € at the 3.5-fold rate. Added to this are the fee numbers of the services actually provided, such as consultation (no. 1), physical examination (nos. 5–8), or ECG (no. 651); one GOÄ point currently equals 0.0582873 €. Outside regular hours, the GOÄ provides fixed letter surcharges: B for 8–10 pm and 6–8 am, C for the night from 10 pm to 6 am, and D for Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. These surcharges are fixed by law and are not multiplied by the factor.

Travel fee under § 8 GOÄ: the journey on the invoice

For the journey, the doctor charges a travel fee under § 8 GOÄ, graded by the radius between the doctor's practice or residence and the place of the visit. At night, between 8 pm and 8 am, the higher rate applies. For distances over 25 kilometres, a travel compensation under § 9 GOÄ of 0.26 € per kilometre driven replaces the travel fee.

Distance (radius) Day (8 am–8 pm) Night (8 pm–8 am)
up to 2 km 3,58 € 7,16 €
more than 2 up to 5 km 6,65 € 10,23 €
more than 5 up to 10 km 10,23 € 15,34 €
more than 10 up to 25 km 15,34 € 25,56 €

If several patients are visited in the same household, for example in a family or a care home, the travel fee is divided proportionally among those visited.

Factor 2.3 or 3.5: what the multiplier depends on

The standard case is the 2.3-fold rate, the so-called threshold value under § 5 (2) GOÄ; it covers services of average difficulty and average time required. The doctor may only go up to the 3.5-fold rate with a written justification on the invoice, for example for a particularly complex examination, difficult examination conditions, or above-average time required. Lower maximum rates apply to technical services such as laboratory tests. Private health insurers reimburse the 2.3-fold rate as a matter of course; a justified 3.5-fold rate is also reimbursable but may prompt queries from the insurer.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about costs

How much does a private home visit in Hamburg cost?
A private medical home visit from RAB Arztbesuche costs statutory-insured self-payers typically €150–300; privately and travel-insured patients usually pay €0 out-of-pocket, as their insurer reimburses the GOÄ amount in full (with a fully reimbursable tariff). There is no flat rate because the German medical fee schedule (GOÄ) bills each individual service separately. The final amount depends on the scope of care (e.g. ECG or blood draw), the time of day, and the travel within Hamburg. During weekday daytime hours the standard 2.3× multiplier applies; in the evening, at night, on weekends and public holidays, fixed GOÄ surcharges are added. We give you the expected price range by phone in advance, before a physician sets off.
Does my private health insurance (PKV) cover it?
Yes, privately insured patients are usually reimbursed in full for a medical home visit in Hamburg. We bill exclusively under the GOÄ (standard 2.3× rate, up to 3.5× with written justification), so your private health insurer recognises the invoice. With a fully reimbursable tariff you typically have no out-of-pocket share; only an agreed deductible may remain with you. Civil servants (Beihilfe recipients) combine Beihilfe (50–80 % depending on the federal state) with their top-up private insurance and are likewise fully covered. You pay the invoice on site first and then submit it; reimbursement usually arrives within 1–3 weeks.
Does statutory insurance (GKV) pay?
No, statutory health insurance does not reimburse private medical home visits. GKV-insured patients use our Hamburg service as self-payers; this follows from the GKV's benefits-in-kind principle. You receive a transparent GOÄ invoice, and we give you the expected price range (typically €150–300) by phone before the visit. The cost can be claimed as an extraordinary expense under § 33 EStG (German income tax law). Those seeking publicly funded out-of-hours care can reach the on-call service of the KV Hamburg at the nationwide number 116117; in life-threatening emergencies always call 112.
What does a home visit cost at night or on weekends?
A home visit in the evening, at night, on weekends or on public holidays costs more than a weekday daytime visit, because the GOÄ prescribes fixed surcharges: letter B for 8–10 pm and 6–8 am, C for the night from 10 pm to 6 am, and D for Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. These amounts are set by statute and are not multiplied by the fee factor. In practice a home visit at those times therefore typically costs €150–300. We cover all of Hamburg daily from 6 am to midnight, 365 days a year; for privately insured patients the premium is usually fully reimbursable anyway.
How much does a private on-call doctor in Hamburg cost?
A private on-call doctor in Hamburg costs, like any private medical home visit, usually €150–300, billed under the German medical fee schedule (GOÄ). In the evening, at night and on weekends or public holidays, the fixed GOÄ surcharges are added: B for 8–10 pm and 6–8 am, C for the night from 10 pm to 6 am, and D for Saturday, Sunday and public holidays; such visits therefore tend towards the upper end of the range. RAB Arztbesuche is a private medical on-call service and expressly not an emergency ambulance service: for life-threatening symptoms always call 112. Privately and travel-insured patients are usually reimbursed the GOÄ amount in full with a fully reimbursable tariff; statutory-insured patients use the service as self-payers and can claim the invoice for tax under § 33 EStG. We give you the expected price range for your visit by phone in advance, daily from 6 am to midnight, before a physician sets off.
Is the medical on-call service in Hamburg free of charge?
The statutory on-call service on 116117 is a health-fund benefit for statutory-insured patients and therefore free of charge; billing goes directly through the health insurer. A private on-call doctor service such as RAB Arztbesuche, by contrast, bills under the German medical fee schedule (GOÄ), usually €150–300 depending on the scope of care, the time of day and the travel distance. The difference lies in availability and waiting time: the statutory visiting service prioritises by urgency and arranges home visits only when transport incapacity has been established, with waiting times of sometimes several hours; the private home visit arrives in Hamburg reliably within 60–90 minutes, daily from 6 am to midnight. Privately and travel-insured patients are usually reimbursed the GOÄ invoice in full, statutory-insured patients pay themselves and can claim the cost as an extraordinary burden under § 33 EStG. In life-threatening emergencies always call 112, the rescue service is a health-fund benefit.
Am I covered as a tourist or with travel insurance?
Yes, most travel and international health insurers cover a medical home visit in Hamburg, as it constitutes outpatient acute care. Tourists, business travellers and expatriates are explicitly welcome, especially around the port, the airport and the city centre. You receive a GOÄ invoice that international insurers recognise; we provide an English receipt on request. You pay on site by card or cash and then submit the invoice to your insurer. Our physicians speak English, so communication is smooth.
How quickly does a doctor arrive for a house call in Hamburg?
As a rule, the doctor from RAB Arztbesuche arrives within 60 to 90 minutes of your request. In central districts and at quieter times it is often faster, while at peak times such as Sunday morning or public holidays the waiting time can be somewhat longer. You receive a realistic time estimate at the time of booking.
When should I call 112 instead of requesting a house call?
For life-threatening symptoms such as unconsciousness, severe shortness of breath, intense chest pain, suspected heart attack or stroke, or severe bleeding, call the 112 emergency number immediately. The house call is intended for acute but stable complaints and does not replace emergency rescue; when in doubt, the emergency number always applies.
Can I get a sick note during a house call?
Yes. The licensed physicians of RAB Arztbesuche issue official sick notes (Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung) that are recognised by all employers and health insurers. The electronic sick note (eAU) is transmitted directly to your health insurer on request; you also receive a paper copy. On request, the certificate is also available in English.
Which documents should I have ready for the house call?
It helps to have your insurance card or your private health insurance policy, a valid form of ID, and a current list of your medications with dosages ready. Previous findings, an allergy passport, and a vaccination record also make treatment easier. Missing documents are not an obstacle, treatment is provided even without complete documentation, and missing details can be added later.

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