4 ms·

Something Americans forget when talking about “Europe” is that it consists of different countries with different rules. Outside big ones like the UK and Germany

Something Americans forget when talking about “Europe” is that it consists of different countries with different rules. Outside big ones like the UK and Germany a LOT of them also link your employment and membership in the social insurance fund. In Estonia, for instance, your 20% social tax pays for the healthcare system. If you get laid off of course there are provisions along with your unemployment to include you, but otherwise no job = no insurance.

Etheryte 4y ago
Regarding Estonia, this is pretty misleading. Firstly, if you get laid off and register as unemployed, you have free healthcare so long as you're actively looking for a new job (there's more nuance to this, but simplified). Secondly, people who don't have a job but are not expected to hold one are covered for free (kids, university students, military service, etc). Even if you voluntarily quit and don't want to get a new job, you're still covered for two months after the fact. In general, the only people who don't have healthcare are people who have personally opted to not have a job and not seek one either.
- chrismeller 4y ago
  I specifically mentioned unemployment, and you are absolutely misleading when you say that you are covered as long as you’re looking for work. Yes, you are covered for a period of time. This time period changed during Covid. Of course the other groups you mentioned are excluded, that’s just dumbassary. If you voluntarily quit you are only covered in the probationary period
  - Etheryte 4y ago
    If you lose your job you're covered for three quarters of a year which is more than plenty to find a new job if you want one. If you voluntarily quit you're covered for two months. You can easily confirm both of these online, it's unclear why you're trying to claim otherwise.
varispeed 4y ago
Also not every European healthcare system is equal. For instance, here in the UK sure if you are in an accident you'll likely get help, but if you have complex health issues you can't really count on the national health service. If not for private healthcare I am not sure if I would be alive today. So you spend a fortune in taxes on a system that you can barely make use of and then you have to spend money again on private healthcare that is actually useful. It works out being more expensive than in the US. Oh and this year I had to call for an ambulance a couple of times and each time they had no ambulances available and said it's best if I take an Uber to hospital. Then at hospital 3-5 hours of waiting, while person you are with is losing their mind out of pain and you can't do anything. It's rubbish.
sys_64738 4y ago
Something Europeans forget about America is that individual states have their own healthcare plans like MA, NJ, NY, CA, etc. Others that don't default to ACA (aka ObamaCare) if you don't have health coverage. These are generally means tested insurance schemes but if you have no income then you generally have some form of free coverage.
- chrismeller 4y ago
  Absolutely. I’ve been insured by Blue Cross under the South Carolina Health Insurance Program
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

Etheryte 4y ago

Regarding Estonia, this is pretty misleading. Firstly, if you get laid off and register as unemployed, you have free healthcare so long as you're actively looking for a new job (there's more nuance to this, but simplified). Secondly, people who don't have a job but are not expected to hold one are covered for free (kids, university students, military service, etc). Even if you voluntarily quit and don't want to get a new job, you're still covered for two months after the fact. In general, the only people who don't have healthcare are people who have personally opted to not have a job and not seek one either.

chrismeller 4y ago
I specifically mentioned unemployment, and you are absolutely misleading when you say that you are covered as long as you’re looking for work. Yes, you are covered for a period of time. This time period changed during Covid. Of course the other groups you mentioned are excluded, that’s just dumbassary. If you voluntarily quit you are only covered in the probationary period
- Etheryte 4y ago
  If you lose your job you're covered for three quarters of a year which is more than plenty to find a new job if you want one. If you voluntarily quit you're covered for two months. You can easily confirm both of these online, it's unclear why you're trying to claim otherwise.

varispeed 4y ago

Also not every European healthcare system is equal. For instance, here in the UK sure if you are in an accident you'll likely get help, but if you have complex health issues you can't really count on the national health service. If not for private healthcare I am not sure if I would be alive today. So you spend a fortune in taxes on a system that you can barely make use of and then you have to spend money again on private healthcare that is actually useful. It works out being more expensive than in the US. Oh and this year I had to call for an ambulance a couple of times and each time they had no ambulances available and said it's best if I take an Uber to hospital. Then at hospital 3-5 hours of waiting, while person you are with is losing their mind out of pain and you can't do anything. It's rubbish.

sys_64738 4y ago

Something Europeans forget about America is that individual states have their own healthcare plans like MA, NJ, NY, CA, etc. Others that don't default to ACA (aka ObamaCare) if you don't have health coverage. These are generally means tested insurance schemes but if you have no income then you generally have some form of free coverage.

chrismeller 4y ago
Absolutely. I’ve been insured by Blue Cross under the South Carolina Health Insurance Program

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]