In addition to the public emergency service, Berlin also has private emergency medical services – doctors who come on private request at any time, independent of the statutory medical associations. A private doctor often offers shorter waiting times, individual care and, for example, English-language service, but is primarily aimed at private patients and self-payers.
What is a private emergency medical service?
Unlike the statutory emergency service (116117), this involves independent doctors or medical companies that offer house calls and acute care outside regular office hours. They are directly reachable by telephone and often also come to your home during the day by appointment, which the public emergency service usually only does at night or on weekends. For example, a Berlin private doctor team advertises: available daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, on request at your home in approximately 90 minutes. Such private doctors can handle everything necessary on-site – examination, prescribe or administer medications, bandaging, injections, etc., and can also issue medical certificates. The service is therefore similar to a regular emergency doctor, but operates outside the statutory insurance system.
What are the costs?
Private emergency medical service costs money. If you are privately insured, the costs are usually covered by your insurance. Private patients usually do not pay anything extra (depending on the plan), as the doctor bills according to the fee schedule for physicians and sends the invoice to the insurance company. However, if you are statutorily insured (public insurance patient), your health insurance will not cover these private services. In this case, you act as a self-payer and receive an invoice. In Berlin, the typical costs for a house visit by a private doctor are approximately €150–200, depending on the day of the week, time, and effort required. For example, one provider quotes a base price starting at €150, but usually under €200 per visit. For children, prices are similar, often slightly lower (approximately €100–180 per visit for a child). These amounts must be paid directly by the patient, in cash or by card, unless you are privately insured. Some providers require immediate payment, while others send an invoice. Please note that surcharges may apply for late night hours or public holidays.
When is a private emergency doctor service worth it?
For private patients, essentially whenever they want quick help – the costs are reimbursed anyway. For statutory insurance patients, it is a matter of weighing options: Do you need a doctor particularly quickly and do not want to wait for the public service? Is a particular service important to you (e.g., a doctor is guaranteed to arrive within an hour, speaks your language, etc.)? Then you may consider the expense. Some people also use the private service if they have had bad experiences with the statutory emergency service or have been turned away. Fundamentally, the 116117 service in Berlin is very good and covers all insured persons. A private emergency doctor is more of a luxury service for special situations or requirements. Private providers also advertise particularly intensive care: the doctor takes plenty of time, calls back later for follow-up, etc. – services that go beyond standard procedures.
Private emergency medical service vs. statutory emergency service
Both have their purpose. The statutory emergency service (116117) is available to everyone, free of charge, and medically competent – however, calls must be prioritized by urgency, waiting times of 2 hours are possible, and house calls are only made if medically necessary. The private emergency medical service, on the other hand, comes on request (even if it might not be absolutely necessary) – here you essentially "buy" the immediate availability of a doctor. This means that genuine emergencies in the public system are not burdened, but it costs you money privately.
Important Note
Even with private emergency services, this applies: In life-threatening cases, always call 112! Even private doctors state on their websites that in cases of suspected heart attack, stroke, or severe acute symptoms, the emergency services should be called first. A private doctor can be a helpful addition, but cannot replace the emergency services.
When it comes to your child: RAB is here for you
Especially with children, every minute counts – even on weekends. The RAB emergency service for Berlin will help you quickly and without red tape when your child needs medical attention. With specialist doctors in Berlin who can make house calls – and real telephone support that takes your concerns seriously. No anonymous call center, no hold queues. Only the best for your child – trust RAB.