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In Germany healthcare costs depend on your income. If you have no income (investment returns don't count against that), you can get monthly government payments
by stkdump 6y ago
In Germany healthcare costs depend on your income. If you have no income (investment returns don't count against that), you can get monthly government payments to cover a moderate lifestyle. But if you have no labor income but sit on some non-negligable net worth, you don't qualify. That means FIRE is a lot more expensive, unless you (or your spouse) takes at least a part time job to get health care covered cheaply, which is actually not that uncommon.
- AstralStorm 6y agoOn the other hand, the really good healthcare will still end up with you paying out of pocket (potentially not a lot, but enough to exceed the cheapskating; potentially a ton), or gambling that the overloaded social system is fast enough. Being richer also opens options of taking extra time off and going medical "shopping", and being able to afford necessary travel.
- adrianN 6y agoI think the difference between normal healthcare and a private health insurance is overstated in Germany. Of course you get perks, and it's easier to get appointments, but I have yet to see data that supports meaningfully different outcomes between the two systems.