Questions, questions ...

[akarii]

How to Obtain Visa for People's Republic of China or: Honesty Is Such A Lonely Word

Application Form, Question 3.4:

"Are you suffering from one of the following illnesses:
(...)
(...)
(   ) Insanity ? "

...
...
Dunno. Really. What do you guys reckon?

Comments

[akarii]

Oh, good. In that case I'll know what to anwer.

German health care? Very good, in my personal opinion. We bitch and moan a lot, but fact is that almost everybody here has at least statutory health insurance that covers costs for medically necessary treatment. There are a few exceptions for glasses, dental protheses and some forms of naturopathic treatment, AND patients still have to chip in to some extent, but in general, everything that needs to be done is largely covered.

Health insurance fees are, in most cases, shared between employer and insurant. The insurant gets an insurance card so that, whenever you visit your GP, you just plunk down your card and everything else is taken care of. No need to pay the doctor in advance; money transfer is exclusively between doctor and insurance.

Fees for statutory insurance vary, depending on the insurant's income. Back when I had a statutory insurance, rates lay between 11 - 16 % of one's netto income, now it's likely a little more. The employer pays the other half. He/she also is responsible for collecting the respective employees' portions, mostly they are just docking the fees off the employee's wages. Embezzling insurance fees is highly punishable. This system ensures that every employee has a valid insurance, whether they want it or not.

You guys can send Mr. Obama right over for visual instruction; the system is not bad.

What exactly do you want to know?

[rya_kelley]

American healthcare has gotten me in a bad mood. Remember a while ago when Mick had to go get that cardiac stress test? We paid $400 up front, our portion of the expense, and I just recently got a letter from the clinic saying we owe another thousand. Freaking ridiculous. I have to call them because I don't think they filed with our insurance at all. If they did . . . *shakes head*.

[akarii]

Owwwch. As a patient you should know what to expect, cost-wise, anything less is intolerable. Health issues are not to be gambled with. What a mess!

Here's to hoping the right people start revising your system and will be doing it in the right way. *crosses fingers*

[rya_kelley]

I know a lot of people are opposed to socialized medicine. Personally, I would like to see something done. I don't know what, they need to start throwing ideas at me.

[akarii]

'saga for Minister of Health and Social Affairs... ^__^

[rya_kelley]

I'd do it for the children. ^_^