What is the difference between a private doctor and a GP?

Two billing systems, one medical qualification

A private doctor and a classic contracted GP in Germany have identical training: six years of medical school, state licensure (Approbation), at least five years of specialist training in general practice or internal medicine, mandatory continuing education, Federal Medical Chamber oversight. The decisive difference is administrative: the contracted GP holds a licence from the regional KV and bills services under the EBM schedule with statutory insurance — the patient pays nothing, just presents the insurance card. The private doctor bills under GOÄ directly with the patient — the patient receives an invoice and submits it to their private insurer.

This drives practical differences. The contracted GP is budgeted: each quarter they have a fixed point allocation for GKV patients, which forces efficiency — shorter consultations, focused diagnostics, often tight slots. The private doctor bills each individual service with a multiplier (1.8 to 3.5) — more time per patient, longer histories, more flexibility on appointments, house calls, evenings and weekends. This shows on the invoice, but it is not added value per se — for clear-cut presentations there is no medical difference. For complex or counselling-heavy cases the longer time can be genuine added value.

For you as a patient: if you are statutorily insured, your GP is usually a contracted physician. You may still see a private doctor as a self-payer — for faster appointments, a house call or a more detailed consultation. If you are privately insured, most doctors you see are either contracted physicians with private billing or pure private doctors; in both cases they bill your PKV under GOÄ. RAB Arztbesuche Berlin is a pure private on-call service — we are not a replacement for your GP practice but a complement outside practice hours and where a house call is needed.

Example: same patient, two paths

A Berliner with an early cold and work deadlines: his contracted GP in Charlottenburg has the next slot in two days, an hour in the waiting room, an 8-minute consultation, prescription and sick-note — all on the insurance card, no out-of-pocket. Alternative: a private call for the evening — house call in 70 minutes, 35-minute thorough examination, prescription and sick-note on the spot, invoice 240 euros. Medically equivalent; economically and time-wise very different.

The main differences in detail

• Training: identical — licence, specialist training and CME identical for all doctors.
• Private billing: GOÄ direct with patient, multiplier 1.8 – 3.5, transparent invoice via the private billing service.
• Contract billing: EBM with statutory insurer, patient presents insurance card, benefit-in-kind.
• Time per patient: private often 20 – 45 minutes; contracted physician under EBM typically 7 – 15 minutes.
• House calls: contracted GPs usually only for housebound regulars; private on-call is flexible and fast.
• Appointment wait: private often same-day to days; contracted specialist often weeks.
• Weekend availability: private on-call 24/7 possible; contracted via 116117.
• Your regular GP remains central: even if you book a private doctor for acute issues, keep a fixed GP for ongoing care.