Booking a doctor's appointment online: all your options

More and more people are making their doctor's appointments online instead of by phone. This guide shows the five most important ways to book an appointment online, how they differ and what to watch out for when booking.

Why are more and more people booking doctor's appointments online?

The main reason is reachability: if you book online, you no longer have to get through to the practice by phone. A representative survey by Bitkom (Germany's digital industry association) shows that online booking increased significantly within two years [1].

Respondents also mention the flexible choice of appointments, for example at off-peak times (58 percent), and automatic appointment reminders (43 percent) [1].

You can book online around the clock, including evenings and weekends. Confirmation usually arrives right away. Which option is right for you depends mainly on how you are insured, whether you want a specific practice and how urgent your concern is.

What options are there for booking a doctor's appointment online?

There are five main options: booking platforms, the 116117 appointment service, booking directly with the practice, your health insurer's appointment service and video consultation. The table shows the differences at a glance (GKV = gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, statutory health insurance; PKV = private Krankenversicherung, private health insurance).

Booking platforms: The best-known portals are Doctolib and Jameda, and there are also smaller providers. You search by specialty and location, see open appointments at different practices and book directly. According to Bitkom, 58 percent of people who book online use such platforms [1]. Booking is not possible on the large portals without a user account. In a 2026 market check, the Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice center) also found that 15 out of 80 search results showed no appointment at all, and that the appointments offered often did not match the selected reason for the visit [2].

116117 appointment service: 116117 is the appointment service of the Kassenärztliche Vereinigungen (regional associations of statutory health insurance physicians). You can reach it free of charge by phone, online at 116117.de and via the 116117 app [8]. What you need to keep in mind is explained in the next section.

Directly with the practice: Many practices offer online booking on their own website or in their own app. According to Bitkom, one in four people (25 percent) use this option [1]. You book without going through a portal, and your data stays with the practice. At avi, you book your appointment directly on avimedical.com or in the avi app. In the app, you can also see your results and message your practice team.

Your health insurer's appointment service: Many statutory health insurers (gesetzliche Krankenkassen) help their members find appointments, for example through a hotline, an online form or the insurer's app. Your insurer can tell you directly which services it offers.

Video consultation: Many concerns can be handled without visiting the practice, for example counseling conversations, discussing results or repeat prescriptions. For people with statutory health insurance, video consultation is a covered benefit. You can book it through platforms, the practice or specialized providers. At avi, you book a video consultation just like an appointment at the practice.

What do people with statutory health insurance need to know about 116117?

With 116117, the key question is whether you need a referral (Überweisung). You do not need a referral for appointments with GPs, pediatricians, ophthalmologists or gynecologists. For other specialties, you usually need a referral with a placement code (Vermittlungscode). The appointment service centers (Terminservicestellen) try to arrange an appointment within four weeks. You usually cannot choose a preferred practice.

The law states: the appointment service center should arrange a treatment appointment within one week, the wait for the appointment must not exceed four weeks, and the distance to the practice must be reasonable [3]. If this is not possible in time, you must be offered an outpatient treatment appointment at a hospital [3].

For specialist appointments, the four-week deadline only applies if your referral includes an urgency code (Dringlichkeitscode); your GP practice issues this twelve-digit code [4]. Without a code, 116117 will still arrange an appointment, but not within this deadline [4].

The patient service does not arrange appointments at a time of your choosing. The Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Baden-Württemberg, for example, offers at most two appointments to choose from and recommends trying your preferred practice directly first [5]. If you cannot make an appointment arranged for you, cancel it through 116117 so that it becomes available again [4].

What should you watch out for when booking online?

Above all, make sure you enter your insurance correctly and recognize appointments that cost money. The following points help you avoid booking mistakes and unexpected costs.

Another market check by the Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (Federation of German Consumer Organisations) shows how important it is to keep an eye on costs: of 349 appointment offers checked at 37 dermatology and gynecology practices in Berlin and Hamburg, 144 were self-pay appointments, even though the search was filtered for appointments for people with statutory insurance [6]. In some cases, the fact that the appointment cost money only became visible late in the booking process [6].

Canceling also deserves care. According to the Verbraucherzentrale, a no-show fee for a missed appointment is only permissible in exceptional cases, for example if you do not show up without canceling and the practice cannot fill the slot at short notice [7]. So cancel as early as possible, and for fixed appointments ideally in writing or by email so that you can prove you canceled [7].