What does a private video consultation for a sick note cost?

What does the fee for this service cover?

You book a private medical consultation in which a doctor assesses the symptoms you describe. Under our terms of service, the fee is payable even when that assessment ends without a certificate. A treatment contract generally links treatment and agreed payment unless a third party must pay. § 630a paragraph 1 BGB describes these as the basic obligations arising under a medical treatment contract in Germany.

According to our service, the €10.72 base fee is reserved beforehand and corresponds to GOÄ item 1, factor 2.3. A necessary visual examination actually performed and billed by analogy to item 5 brings the fee to €21.44. Check this distinction before booking so you do not confuse the reservation with every possible final total. The doctor's decision about a certificate remains independent of the amount paid for your consultation.

What additional time-related charges may apply?

The following amounts come exclusively from our terms of service and describe the time-related surcharges offered here. The actual consultation start is decisive; any surcharge displayed during reservation is initially an estimate. If you have questions, compare the recorded start time with the individual items on your invoice. These prices do not promise particular opening hours or the availability of a doctor at all times.

Under the terms of service, the relevant B or C surcharge may be added to surcharge D at night. The final invoice reflects services actually performed and surcharges applicable under the GOÄ fee rules. Surcharge B requires care outside consultation hours; surcharges B and C cannot be combined. Read the specific prices before booking and keep the booking information for any questions afterwards. If something is unclear, ask which start time and billing item were used in the calculation.

When is a reserved amount collected or released?

Our service distinguishes the reservation at booking from charging the amount actually incurred after the consultation. Billing covers the medical services actually performed and any surcharges applicable to the consultation. If no consultation takes place, the reservation is released in accordance with the terms of service. These details describe the payment procedure offered and cannot replace checking the invoice you actually receive.

The terms of service provide for a full refund when cancellation occurs at least 24 hours before the appointment. For later cancellation or non-attendance, any payment claim depends on the applicable legal requirements. No fixed cancellation fee is agreed; legally deductible savings and earnings from other work are taken into account. Check that section separately if you cannot attend an appointment that has already been agreed. Document your cancellation so its timing and the relevant appointment can be traced if questions arise.

Which details help you check your invoice?

§ 12 paragraph 2 GOÄ lists the service date, item number, description, amount and multiplier among required invoice details. Under paragraph 1, payment becomes due when an invoice complying with the fee regulation has been issued. Keep the invoice with your booking information and compare the details they contain about the consultation. Query unclear items instead of assuming the final total solely from the amount reserved beforehand.

Under our terms of service, statutory insurance patients pay themselves; this service does not bill statutory health funds directly. Privately insured people and those eligible for Beihilfe can submit invoices, with reimbursement depending on their coverage terms. If needed, clarify this with your insurer and accurately describe the scope of the private service. A general price overview cannot guarantee how much your individual policy will reimburse after your consultation.

The invoice and employer's certificate serve different purposes and should be carefully distinguished when forwarding documents. Select the document intended for the relevant recipient specifically within your personal patient account. Before sending, check that both its filename and contents fit the request you are handling. For billing enquiries, contact the responsible office using your actual invoice and the relevant booking details.

What do you need to tell your employer?

Notify your employer without delay that you cannot work and how long you expect the absence to last. This legal duty to notify follows from § 5 paragraph 1 continued remuneration law (Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz, EFZG), the German continued remuneration law (Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz, EFZG). Where possible, send your notification before waiting for the video consultation to finish. If unsure, ask which reporting channel to use and who handles sickness notifications at work.

Keep your sickness notification separate from the medical evidence covering the period certified by the doctor. With this service, you receive a PDF for your employer after the doctor establishes incapacity for work. You submit it yourself; there is no electronic transmission to your health insurance fund here. Our terms of service explain this service limit alongside the procedure for the private medical consultation.

Before sending the certificate, check the recipient, your name and the period stated on it. Store your own copy and confirmation of submission somewhere protected for your personal records. If questions arise, you can then find and identify the documents you actually submitted more easily.

What are the limits and fees of this service?

Our service is for adults aged 18 and over whose symptoms can be assessed adequately by video. Generally accepted professional standards must allow your treatment without an in-person medical consultation. The certificate usually starts on the day of your video consultation. After careful medical assessment, the doctor may exceptionally backdate its start by up to three days. The doctor must also be able to establish your incapacity for work during that earlier period. There is no entitlement to backdating. The certificate still covers no more than three calendar days, including any backdated days. This service does not extend an existing certificate by video. Contact us on your first day of illness whenever possible. Further details are set out in our terms of service.

According to our service, a base consultation fee of €10.72 is reserved before the appointment. If a medically necessary visual examination is actually performed, the fee totals €21.44 plus applicable surcharges. The fee remains payable even if the medical assessment does not result in a certificate. Before booking, read the full pricing information carefully, including details of any possible surcharges.

People with statutory health insurance pay themselves; reimbursement by private insurance depends on their policy terms. Our terms of service do not guarantee reimbursement or acceptance of the certificate by your employer. Have your identity document and a device with a camera and microphone ready for the consultation. Check your internet connection and choose somewhere you can speak without being disturbed by others.

Where can you find further answers?

These related guides provide further information about the next steps in reporting your sickness absence:

• Is a sick note issued by video valid in Germany?
• How do you get an online sick note in Germany?
• How can you get a sick note at weekends or on holidays?
• What is the difference between electronic incapacity certificate (elektronische Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung, eAU) and a PDF sick note?

Editorial team Krankschreibung per Video, Drylabs GmbH

Updated: 26 October 2026