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> The problem is you can´t easily opt back into the public system once you´re out (especially once you´re old), so there are tens of thousands (if not hundreds)

> The problem is you can´t easily opt back into the public system once you´re out (especially once you´re old), so there are tens of thousands (if not hundreds), that get stuck in the private system without being able to pay the fees because they´ve become poor (possibly because of health reasons), and then they get denied coverage and thus access to medical services. Although I recognize the personal hardship this can cause, I fail to accept this as a general injustice. In the German healthcare system nobody is forced to choose a private insurance instead of the public one. Choosing a private insurance when you're allowed to (which often means because you're in a higher income bracket) is usually only cheaper if you're young and healthy. It's basically a gamble on your own health for wealthy people. And if the wealthy young and healthy population don't contribute to the public health insurance system which also pays for the not-so-wealthy and not-so-healthy (older) population, the public insurance system isn't sustainable. The real problem with this system is its division in public and private insurance. Mandatory public insurance would mean lower insurance fees for public insurance and the problem of being stuck in private insurance would no longer exist.

ant6n 6y ago
The point is that there exist cracks in that many people will fall through and society at large doesn't even know that they are there; society as a whole is in denial about the problem because they can look at utterly dysfunctional systems like the US and and say "we're so much better here". Part of the problem is that many of those who are aware of the problem blame the individuals themselves for falling through the cracks in the system (like you do, based on some notion of 'choice'). One possible solution (it seems you agree with me here), is to remove the division between public and private systems. The first step ist to accept the existence of a problem instead of denying it (blaming individuals is a form of denying systemic issues).
- schlowmo 6y ago
  I was commenting on a specific point made by the parent comment. It's pretty far fetched I'm in denial of the root issue when I even mentioned the real solution which you're agreeing with. So while I get your sentiment you're really arguing against the wrong person here. Besides that in my opinion there is a significant difference between "falling through the cracks" and making wrong decisions poorer people aren't even allowed to make - and then wanting those poorer people pay for your errors.

ant6n 6y ago

The point is that there exist cracks in that many people will fall through and society at large doesn't even know that they are there; society as a whole is in denial about the problem because they can look at utterly dysfunctional systems like the US and and say "we're so much better here". Part of the problem is that many of those who are aware of the problem blame the individuals themselves for falling through the cracks in the system (like you do, based on some notion of 'choice'). One possible solution (it seems you agree with me here), is to remove the division between public and private systems. The first step ist to accept the existence of a problem instead of denying it (blaming individuals is a form of denying systemic issues).

schlowmo 6y ago
I was commenting on a specific point made by the parent comment. It's pretty far fetched I'm in denial of the root issue when I even mentioned the real solution which you're agreeing with. So while I get your sentiment you're really arguing against the wrong person here. Besides that in my opinion there is a significant difference between "falling through the cracks" and making wrong decisions poorer people aren't even allowed to make - and then wanting those poorer people pay for your errors.