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@rglullis: Well. There is social security, health care, retirement funds and there are taxes. Well: I gladly pay health insurance in Germany instead of having

@rglullis: Well. There is social security, health care, retirement funds and there are taxes. Well: I gladly pay health insurance in Germany instead of having an American system. Could it be better - hell yes. There is so much bullshit being paid for and so much in the system is made to extract money. But first: taxes are not the culprit here. And second: Pay for healthcare in the US yourself and see what system you like better. Esp if you get older.

morsma 8y ago
As a Dane living in the US. I'll take the US health system anyday over the danish system. Just too bad Obama increased premiums by 50-100%.
rglullis 8y ago
It is a false dichotomy. I don't mind the health insurance being mandatory, much like I don't mind people being forced to pay for car insurance if they drive a car. What I find absurd in Germany is that you pay based on your income, just that. I would accept it being factored in, but not being the sole metric to determine pay.
- jhasse 8y ago
  Most health insurances will give you benefits for staying healthy (e.g. visiting the gym or a nutritionist). Visiting the dentist at least once a year will also give you a benefit. There might be other stuff I can't think of right now. So income isn't the sole metric which determines the pay.
  - rglullis 8y ago
    Please tell me how I can reduce my TK payment by showing them my gym membership, and I will be very grateful. No sarcasm here. Also, as far as I know there is no benefit in going to the dentist, except as "We pay one dental check-up and one clean-up for year, more than that comes out of your pocket". That is at least what I was told when I went to the dentist.
    - jhasse 8y ago
      > Please tell me how I can reduce my TK payment by showing them my gym membership, and I will be very grateful. No sarcasm here. It looks like the TK doesn't pay for just visiting the gym: https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/leistungen-und-mitgliedschaft/leistungen/praevention/gesundheitskurse/kostenuebernahme-fitnessstudio-2004202 https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/leistungen-und-mitglieds... > Also, as far as I know there is no benefit in going to the dentist, except as "We pay one dental check-up and one clean-up for year, more than that comes out of your pocket". That is at least what I was told when I went to the dentist. They will pay more for a tooth replacement if you visit the dentist on a regular basis: https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/leistungen-und-mitgliedschaft/leistungen/zaehne/zahnvorsorge-und-bonusheft/wozu-dient-bonusheft-beim-zahnarzt-2002374 https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/leistungen-und-mitglieds...
    - germanier 8y ago
      Some public insurances tried giving benefits for going to a gym or having reduced membership fees at partners but this has been shut down by the regulator. You might be interested in their bonus programme: https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/gesundheit-und-medizin/praevention-und-frueherkennung/tk-bonusprogramm-2024580 https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/gesundheit-und-medizin/p... Some public insurers have a more extensive one or special, reduced tariffs under some conditions (Wahltarif).
- jashmatthews 8y ago
  Anyone earning over €60k in Germany can opt for private health insurance.

morsma 8y ago

As a Dane living in the US. I'll take the US health system anyday over the danish system. Just too bad Obama increased premiums by 50-100%.

rglullis 8y ago

It is a false dichotomy. I don't mind the health insurance being mandatory, much like I don't mind people being forced to pay for car insurance if they drive a car. What I find absurd in Germany is that you pay based on your income, just that. I would accept it being factored in, but not being the sole metric to determine pay.

jhasse 8y ago
Most health insurances will give you benefits for staying healthy (e.g. visiting the gym or a nutritionist). Visiting the dentist at least once a year will also give you a benefit. There might be other stuff I can't think of right now. So income isn't the sole metric which determines the pay.
- rglullis 8y ago
  Please tell me how I can reduce my TK payment by showing them my gym membership, and I will be very grateful. No sarcasm here. Also, as far as I know there is no benefit in going to the dentist, except as "We pay one dental check-up and one clean-up for year, more than that comes out of your pocket". That is at least what I was told when I went to the dentist.
  - jhasse 8y ago
    > Please tell me how I can reduce my TK payment by showing them my gym membership, and I will be very grateful. No sarcasm here. It looks like the TK doesn't pay for just visiting the gym: https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/leistungen-und-mitgliedschaft/leistungen/praevention/gesundheitskurse/kostenuebernahme-fitnessstudio-2004202 https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/leistungen-und-mitglieds... > Also, as far as I know there is no benefit in going to the dentist, except as "We pay one dental check-up and one clean-up for year, more than that comes out of your pocket". That is at least what I was told when I went to the dentist. They will pay more for a tooth replacement if you visit the dentist on a regular basis: https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/leistungen-und-mitgliedschaft/leistungen/zaehne/zahnvorsorge-und-bonusheft/wozu-dient-bonusheft-beim-zahnarzt-2002374 https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/leistungen-und-mitglieds...
  - germanier 8y ago
    Some public insurances tried giving benefits for going to a gym or having reduced membership fees at partners but this has been shut down by the regulator. You might be interested in their bonus programme: https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/gesundheit-und-medizin/praevention-und-frueherkennung/tk-bonusprogramm-2024580 https://www.tk.de/techniker/service/gesundheit-und-medizin/p... Some public insurers have a more extensive one or special, reduced tariffs under some conditions (Wahltarif).
jashmatthews 8y ago
Anyone earning over €60k in Germany can opt for private health insurance.