Health insurance
If you live in Germany, you must have health insurance. There are two different health insurance systems. A distinction is made between statutory and private health insurance. Most employees in Germany have statutory health insurance.
Here you can find a list of all statutory insurances. (opens in a new tab)
If one spouse already has health insurance, the other spouse and their children (up to a certain age limit) can be insured together with the same health insurance company.
Further information: Make it in Germany (opens in a new tab) or GKV-Spitzenverband (opens in a new tab).
If you have any questions, please contact a health insurance company of your choice or the Welcome Center Stuttgart.
Doctor's visit
As a patient, you are free to choose your doctor. It is advisable to have a permanent family doctor. This is usually a general practitioner or internist, for children also a pediatrician. The family doctor makes the first diagnosis. Your medical history is known there and, if necessary, you can be referred to a specialist. You will receive a referral slip for this.
Make an appointment before going to the doctor and do not forget to cancel the appointment if you cannot go to the doctor after all.
Here's what you need to remember when you visit the doctor:
- Insurance card (health card) when visiting a doctor, dentist or hospital.
- Referral slip for the specialist doctor
- Maternity passport in case of pregnancy
- Vaccination book and precautionary booklet for the visit to the pediatrician
Foreign language doctors
On the website of the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Baden-Württemberg (opens in a new tab) you can search for doctors in Stuttgart who speak your language.
The site is not available in English, but the Welcome Center team will be happy to help you find a doctor.
People with disabilities
The municipal social service at the health department advises people up to 65 years of age with chronic illnesses or disabilities and their relatives. The staff will answer your questions and help you find solutions and new options, for example, for the following concerns:
- Where can I get relief and support for myself and my family?
- How do I deal with my disability?
- What integration possibilities are there in kindergartens, schools and at work?
- What financial assistance is available to me and how do I apply for it?
- What possibilities are there to enable me to live a self-determined life?
On request, the experts can also provide advice at home and, if necessary, with an interpreter or sign language - confidentially, independently and free of charge.
Other municipal counseling services for people with disabilities.
Children with disabilities
Migrant parents help migrant parents
If you have come to Stuttgart from abroad and your child has a disability, the Gemeinnützige Elternstiftung Baden-Württemberg (opens in a new tab) will be happy to help you. There you will receive help from trained parent mentors from different countries. Thus, migrant families offer advice and information about early childhood education and counseling services in their native language and accompany them to special schools. (opens in a new tab) The mentors were trained in cooperation with Gemeinnützige Elternstiftung Baden-Württemberg e.V., the Stuttgart State Education Authority and the state capital Stuttgart.
advice and information about early childhood education and counseling services in their native language and accompany them to special schools. (opens in a new tab) The mentors were trained in cooperation with Gemeinnützige Elternstiftung Baden-Württemberg e.V., the Stuttgart State Education Authority and the state capital Stuttgart.
Social Services for People with Chronic Illnesses or Disabilities - Team Children
Stuttgart Interdisciplinary Early Intervention Center at the Health Department
Age and care
In the state capital Stuttgart, you will find experts on all aspects of municipal services for seniors and care for the elderly at the citizen service Leben im Alter. If you have any questions about old age and aging, you can contact the district offices. These can include questions about housing in old age, long-term care insurance, volunteering or cultural and leisure activities for seniors.
But also when it comes to organizing concrete assistance for older people, the district offices are the right place to turn. The experts will clarify what support you need and how it can be financed in individual cases. Advice is available by telephone, at the district office or at your home. In addition, the staff offer psychosocial counseling, long-term support for family caregivers, people living alone and lonely elderly people. The counseling is confidential and free of charge - regardless of religion and nationality.
