Germany
In Germany, you aren’t forced to choose between plan A, which covers your liver, but not your kidney, and plan B, which does the opposite. Every plan has to cover everything - Laurence Kotlikoff
image by: opicobello
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Is Healthcare better in Germany?
Sometimes “home” feels a lot further than a 10 hour flight away. My old college roommate was just diagnosed with colon cancer and I don’t know how to express my worry, my concern – all the feelings I am having for her – better than in a facebook message. She is not one for social media so I’m not sure if she’ll see it. Over the decade that I have been out of college we lost touch as we each got married, moved (one of us across the country and an ocean), and generally went about our lives.
But with this news I am brought back to those good ‘ole college days and can’t believe she is facing the C-word. It is among an expats’ greatest fears; not that you will just miss out on the fun…
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German Health Care System
Health insurance is mandatory for all citizens and permanent residents of Germany. It is provided by two systems, namely: 1) competing, not-for-profit, nongovernmental health insurance funds (“sickness funds”—there were 118 as of January 20161) in the statutory health insurance (SHI) system; and 2) substitutive private health insurance (PHI).
On health care, let’s ask Germany
In Germany, you aren’t forced to choose between plan A, which covers your liver, but not your kidney, and plan B, which does the opposite. Every plan has to cover everything.
German hospitals 'carrying out unnecessary operations'
A new study has highlighted well-documented problems in the German health care system - doctors have a huge financial incentive to offer unnecessary treatments, and hospitals remain under intense financial pressure.
How Germany's healthcare system works
Germany's spending on health care is relatively high, just over 11% of its wealth, compared to 9.8% in the UK and it has more doctors and hospital beds per patient than the UK.
What American Healthcare Can Learn From Germany
All things considered, it’s good to be a sick German. There are no network limitations, so people can see any doctor they want. There are no deductibles, so Germans have no fear of spending hundreds before their insurance ever kicks in. There’s also no money that changes hands during a medical appointment.
Why Germans Love Their Health Insurance
In contrast to America's mixed system, Germany's non-government, non-profit healthcare promotes solidarity among income groups. The complaints seem modest by comparison.
Is Healthcare better in Germany?
Yes, I think healthcare is better in Germany, and yes, this is largely an opinion piece. I will sprinkle some facts and actual info in here so you can form your own point of view, but will almost definitely fall afoul of Hyde‘s recommendation that “…Saying one way is ‘better’ than another is simply making a judgment based on your own background and experiences.” Let me state my case.
German healthcare - everything you need to know
Germany is often touted as a model for healthcare - especially since it created the very first universal healthcare system in the late 1800s, under Otto von Bismarck. Since it is compulsory here, you’ll find it quite hard to be hired as a freelancer or get any kind of visa without it. So here are some of the most important things to know.
Healthcare in Germany: A guide to the German healthcare system
The German healthcare system is one of the best in the world, with universal coverage that means nobody lives in fear of huge medical bills. But one of the reasons the system is so good is just how much detail it contains - which can make it tough to take in. If you’re new to Germany or heading there soon, our guide will give you the key details involved in this complex but impressive system.
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