A large percentage of foreign doctors will handle you only as a private patient. You will be reimbursed for the amount that the German system would have paid for the treatment - sometimes only a fraction of the actual cost you paid. If you wish to be covered for the full amount of any medical outlay or plan to travel to non-EU countries, you should definitely purchase a travel insurance policy. There are single trip and annual policies to choose from. The German government health system does not cover medical evacuation from any foreign countries. Please note that not all travel insurance policies cover evacuations, so always check the fine print before signing up.