Pharmacy and Medication — How It Works in Germany

Status: March 2026. All information without warranty.

Prescription vs. Over-the-Counter

Co-payment

For prescription Medikamente you pay a co-payment:
- €5–10 per Medikament (10% of price, minimum €5, maximum €10)
- Exemption possible with low income (burden limit: 2% of annual income, chronically ill: 1%)

Emergency Pharmacy

Pharmacies offer night and weekend service (rotating):
- Finder: apothekenfinder.mobi or phone 0800 00 22 833 (free)
- Emergency surcharge: €2.50 extra

Online Pharmacies

You can order over-the-counter Medikamente online — often cheaper:
- shop-apotheke.com, docmorris.de, medpex.de
- Check: EU safety logo on website
- Prescription Medikamente only with original Rezept sent in

Tips

• Ask for generics: Same active ingredient Medikamente are often much cheaper
• Green Rezept = recommendation, but you pay yourself (not covered)
• Red Rezept = insurance Rezept, co-pay applies (valid 28 days)
• Blue Rezept = private Rezept (you pay full price)
• Bring vaccination card — doctor can enter vaccinations directly