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I'm member of a German public health fund (for political reasons, I could instead opt for cheaper private health insurance which many people argue is better, th
by germanier 8y ago
I'm member of a German public health fund (for political reasons, I could instead opt for cheaper private health insurance which many people argue is better, this option is not even available to most of the population). Last year, I went directly to a specialist for a non-urgent reason (two weeks between my call and the appointment) who recommend surgery which was scheduled in a top university hospital about four weeks later and performed by a highly regarded doctor. To make sure this is a good idea I visited another specialist before. I could have visited more if I wanted but there is really no reason to do that. I worried about lots of things but not one second about billing issues, waiting times, or quality of care.
Only thing I paid? The taxi ride home. For anything else there was my insurance card.
This is the same type of insurance plan 89% of the population uses – including the unemployed, middle managers, elderly, students, chronically ill, and always healthy.
- heeeman 8y ago> Only thing I paid? The taxi ride home. For anything else there was my insurance card. Oh, so you don't pay for your insurance card? Nice deal! Because I also have public health insurance in Germany, and last time I checked, it cost 14% of my gross salary.
- mgkimsal 8y agoand if you're unemployed (or unemployable) do you lose the ability to use the insurance? does it get cancelled if you don't pay?
- germanier 8y agoThe first month after getting unemployed is free, after that either the unemployment insurance or the government takes over your payment. If you have to pay the fee on your own and miss at least two months (which can't really happen for regular employees as the fee is taken directly out of their paycheck) the fees can be collected with exactly the same procedure as other taxes. Until this happens you are only covered in an acute illness or pain situation, pregnancy, and for some preventive checkups. Health insurance (both private and public) can never be cancelled for nonpayment.
- germanier 8y agoWhich is why I mentioned that in my very first sentence. Of course insurance is not free, don't pretend anyone seriously thinks that. For employees, half of the fee is payed by their employer.
- davrosthedalek 8y agoOh come on, please don't fall for this. The employer doesn't care who gets the money. He pays a fixed amount, and gets a fixed amount of work from you. Whether part of it goes straight to the insurance or to you first doesn't matter. The employer or employee part of the fee could be 100% instead. All parties will end up with the same amount of money.