[tirsales]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Hey Tirsales! Where've you been so long? Missed you!!

Working

What you are saying sends chills of horror up my spine. Because my inborn lack of trust in too much bureaurocracy

Yes, bureaucracy is a difficult problem in Germany - we have much too much of this. (Oh and I am using an add-on to correct my spelling, otherwise I would never write words like that )
Still - the "insurance system" in Germany is not necessarily the problem Greater problems occur through stuff like overzealous documentation requirements, the insurances are normal companies (and they dont care whether they get their money from the government or from the person).

(spell it however you wish, I'm not looking it up) screams: Right - and then the govt covers fewer services, so more people go to private insurance, which saves the govt money, which encourages them to encourage fewer services in a downward spiral. It is a visceral reaction that I had no control over, but instantly felt threatened when I read that. Strange, never really paid attention to that until now.

Nah, it's not like this - as I said it is complicated. Most people pay their insurance for themselves (actually half is paid by the employer, the other half by the person) (not working family members are covered by the insurance of the working members). Only some (e.g. unemployed, old) get *their insurance* paid by the government (so the insurance gets its money from the government, not the hospital). That way the hospital does get exactly the same whoever you are.
Then there are private insurances that you can buy in addition (e.g. to get better dental therapies) - but this is totally unrelated to governmental services or payments. Whether you have this "additional insurance" or not does not give or cost the government any money. (The government wont pay for those additional insurances in any case).
And yes, this is greatly simplified - because this complete set is only true for most people. There is a second kind of insurance (called private medical insurancy) - it is more expensive and you are only allowed to get it if you earn more then a certain degree. (Now, this is not meant to be some "feudal system"). This insurancies *will* pay the hospital more money, they will cover more therapies, etc (e.g. pay for a single room in the hospital, etc) And: if you ever switch into one of those insurancies, you cannot switch back (and no, the government will not cover for them - whatever happens). So you should be sure about your job before switching
Yes, its even more complicated. Like I said - bureaucracy is somewhat of a German hobby. (But please believe me: The system is working reasonably well).

But the principal system (same insurance for everybody, insurance pays a certain level, etc) is IMO a very, very good one. For example it spares the mentioned problems with "medical therapies for social weeks not paying off for the hospital" and really ensures some kind of equality.
And it ensures that you get a good medical therapy whatever happens (loosing your job does NOT mean ending a therapy - the hospital would never need to know).