I was woefully uneducated about Germany before moving here. Take, for example, my perception on healthcare. I thought that all countries in Europe had government-run universal healthcare. Watching Michael Moore's Sicko shortly before leaving the States did nothing to shatter this assumption.
I believed that — unlike in the U.S. where health insurance comes with high premiums and is only available to people with decent jobs — in German healthcare was free and wonderful and available to all.
Yes, less then .2 percent of the German population is uninsured and the nation's system is rated higher then the U.S. by the World Health Organization.* What I didn't realize was that people working in Germany have to pay for half of their insurance. (This is particularly interesting when I consider that I my employer in the U.S. paid 100 percent of my health insurance costs.) Furthermore, you have the option of public or private insurance and have to pay a co-pay when you visit a doctor.
* Germany is ranked 25th and the U.S. 37th. France is on top of the list and Canada is 30th.
1 comment:
Another couple of shocks I've experienced. Doctor's visits are totally different, with your doctor taking the time to talk with you. This is a GREAT thing. Prescriptions are nearly cost prohibitive, and almost always in a very low quantity so you must come back to refill (another thing which is a shock - no easy refills like America) before your illness is complete. The pharmacy is a WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE!
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