Germany’s insurance system may divide people into categories, but when it comes to care, you’re free to choose any doctor you like. The general practitioner is seen as the gatekeeper, vetting patients and referring tougher cases down the line. If the family doctor orders it, it’s generally covered, but major, non-emergency procedures can require prior approval from your insurance company. Doctors and their staff will help with the necessary paperwork.

General practitioners can be found on almost every block (look for white signs attached to buildings that list a doctor’s speciality and office hours).

Specialists seem unusually common. Berlin’s Charité Hospital is a university clinic at the forefront of modern German medicine. Referrals aren’t required to visit most specialists, but without one they’ll charge €10 for the first visit each quarter. Germans don’t generally get regular check-ups, but your family doctor can look you over. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific tests, but you may be required to pay for them out of your own pocket; only certain screens at certain ages are seen as necessary by the German healthcare system.