[Katsunami]

In the Netherlands, there is a debate raging at the moment, if health insurance companies should be able to force the use of a particular brand (of medicine or not. It's even being discussed if we should be able to choose our own doctor or not. To some extent, they already force you to choose 'their' doctor, as they are, as of 2016, no longer obligated to refund costs made at a 'different' doctor.

To be honest, I think it's becoming ridiculous. It's an obligation to have a health insurance (which I think is good), but there are so many shenanigans, exclusions, exceptions and own risk to be paid up front, that I almost need to break my neck and end in the hospital for a few months to get something 'out of this insurance', if you know what I mean. And then, I have to do it every few years.

Even if I need new glasses, nothing gets refunded. I need 'extra' insurance for that, but that's so expensive that it's just cheaper to get the new glasses myself :X

I have been paying a sizable sum of at least €100 a month for the last 20 years. That comes down to at least €24.000 of insurance paid, and if something happens, I have to pay the first €370 myself or so.

If I *ever* used care for more than €370 at once somewhere in the last 20 years, then the only chance of that happening is getting a prescription for a skin rash a few years back, or the three stitches I needed to patch up a paper knife cut 15 years ago. Apart from those two incidents, I haven't needed a doctor for more than 20 years, except if I decide to have a checkup for some reason. "Oh, it has been 4.5 years... maybe I should make an appointment again."

The one thing you can add to your insurance in almost limitless quantity for some reason is dental stuff and psychological help; both of which I (normally) don't need.