Write down the decision you want help with
For example: I want to know which records to prepare, how to compare specialist appointments and costs, or how to arrange follow-up after care in China.
Planning medical care in China from Germany
Organize German ePA and provider records, Befunde, Arztbriefe, imaging, insurance, and planned China specialist-review questions.
Prepare my caseExplore practical patient guides
Make your first conversation useful
Prepare the main question you want reviewed, a treatment timeline and an index of the German reports. Tell the team whether you already have an appointment proposal and which language you prefer for communication.
Keep a short planning note ready
Note your city, preferred language, contact times, possible appointment dates and which reports you have or have requested. Send medical files through the secure case channel.
Where to request your records
Start with the documents in your ePA and match them to the practices and hospitals involved. Request missing source documents directly from the treating provider.
Collect specialist letters (Arztbriefe), findings (Befunde) and the discharge summary.
Request operative reports and relevant rehabilitation summaries from the hospital or service that issued them.
Ask radiology for the report and the original DICOM study.
Keep the German originals; list the documents needing translation alongside their dates and providers.
Set out payment and travel arrangements
Send your statutory health insurer or private insurer the proposed China provider and service. Ask for the authorization process, reimbursable items and your own payment share in writing. Budget separately for travel, interpreting and follow-up.
Get an itemized hospital estimate with currency, expiry date and payee.
Keep the insurer’s written response, your own payment share and the claim-document list together.
Put appointment dates, length of stay, language and companion needs on one itinerary.
Discuss the itinerary, travel preparation and medicines with your usual clinician.
Check passport, entry-document and medicine requirements before booking.
Illustrative coordination scenario
This is a constructed educational example. It does not describe a real patient and is not a testimonial, recommendation, or outcome claim.
- Situation
- An adult in Hamburg is considering a planned orthopedic review in China after treatment by a practice, a hospital, and an imaging centre.
- What is missing
- The ePA shows an Arztbrief and medication entry, but the operative report, complete rehabilitation summary, and MRI DICOM study remain with separate providers. Translation priorities and insurance terms are unresolved.
- Coordination next step
- The patient requests each missing source document, indexes German originals by date and facility, and confirms review, translation, insurance, and current travel requirements before booking.
Arrange care after you return
Arrange a follow-up contact with your Hausarzt or usual specialist. Ask the China team for a discharge summary, procedure details, results and medicine changes that can be shared with that practice.
Useful links for records and travel
Use these links when requesting records, preparing insurance questions and arranging travel documents.
Updated: · Editorial and review information · Contact the team
German patient planning questions
What should I prepare for the first conversation?
Prepare the main question you want reviewed, a treatment timeline and an index of the German reports. Tell the team whether you already have an appointment proposal and which language you prefer for communication.
Can I start while some records are still missing?
Make a list of the reports you have, the missing items and the providers you have contacted. Start with the question you want answered, then use the receiving team’s checklist to complete the packet before clinical review.
How should I prepare for insurance and self-payment?
Send your statutory health insurer or private insurer the proposed China provider and service. Ask for the authorization process, reimbursable items and your own payment share in writing. Budget separately for travel, interpreting and follow-up.
How do I connect this with care at home?
Arrange a follow-up contact with your Hausarzt or usual specialist. Ask the China team for a discharge summary, procedure details, results and medicine changes that can be shared with that practice.
Create one index across ePA and provider archives
Map every German source document, original image study, translation requirement, and unresolved travel question.