How Germany's Universal Health-Care System Works

Germany’s health-care system spends nearly half as much as the United States but still manages to cover 100% of its population through a mix of public and private insurance schemes. There are two different systems that residents can turn to for insurance in Germany: SHI, which stands for Statutory Health Insurance and PHI or Private Health Insurance. Here’s how they work.

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How Germany's Universal Health-Care System Works

[kingtut]

When America creates an award-winning tv show about an underpaid teacher cooking meth to pay medical bills, that says it all

[legendkill]

When you go to an hospital in Germany they want a card from you but it's not a credit card. That's the difference

[hiuvhbghhug]

In America people think about money before calling an ambulance.

In Germany it is a crime (unterlassene Hilfeleistung) to not call an ambulance for someone in need.

[oskarvillani]

"One country"? Almost all European countries do have a more or less similar healthcare system like Germany. America is the ONE without.

[Cmmander]

I am German and had a life threatening accident. I spent 4 months in 3 hospitals, had 16 surgeries and then spent more than 1.5 years in recovery. Treatment costs in excess of way over 1.5 million euros. I need to take expensive medicine ever since. How much did I pay? Zero.

[DjMeru]

Being german I can‘t imagine what it must be like to think about money before calling for an ambulance. That’s totally nuts.

[lukasj]

Fun fact, here in Germany in political discussion if we want a negative example for health care in 99-100% of cases we point to the US in horror

[jkobstube]

The next time I hear any American go "but that's socialsim!" - remember, this was all implemented in 1883 by Otto von Bismarck, a freaking ultra-conservative monarchist and Prussian statesman, who was the first German chancellor in the consitutional monarchy that was founded in 1872/71.

[salentino]

Also Germany:
- 30 days of payed vacation a year

- Not getting fired if you call in sick

[nicoledreamcr]

Germany : Healthcare
*America : Wealthcare*

[Dinngg]

In America, you have a whole lot of people saying "I don't want to pay for someone else's health care." What a lovely attitude.

[hamburgcowboy]

I was visiting my sister in the US in 2019. We were watching TV and what hit me most was that almost 80% of all commercials were for various private health insurance providers. That's insane to me.

[satriaamiluhur]

Two things that should never be treated as business : education and healthcare

[friedliebend]

Breaking Bad - German Edition
Doctor: Mr White, I have serious news for you: You have cancer, Your treatment starts next week.
Walter: Thank you.
THE END.

[peterhomann]

I am German, living in the US. My mom lives in Germany and was found to have early stage breast cancer, she needed a lumpectomy, was in the hospital for one week, after that she went through Chemotherapy, needed meds for pain and nausea, then follow up visits with her surgeon, gyn and family doctor; she was offered counselling and a dietary consultant but felt she did not need either. Out of pocket expense: 25 Euros, which as I understand it was a mandatory contribution towards food in the hospital with the argument that people would spend money for their food if they were at home. (apparently the food was not bad)
She is right now hiking in the German alps.
Same thing happens in the US: she would be in personal bankruptcy and me, my sister and brother would be responsible to pay down her debt for the rest of our lives.

[mommakittydragon]

I live here in Germany and I'm American, I love the insurance that I have here. I wish for friends and family members in America could have as good a system !

[unklarnamenpflicht]

As a German I think it’s funny to hear Americans saying “we give Americans freedom to chose”. I have my insurance (which I can change whenever I want and it takes minutes to do so) and I have the freedom to go to the doctor when I want, where I want etc.

Also they forgot to mention the medicines. For all the essential medicines, if they cost until 99€, I only pay five. All medicines over 100€ we pay 10€.

I don’t know any German who is against this system. Everyone is happy. The ones who pay and never use are happy, I mean, who wants to be sick? But they still have the peace of mind that, if something goes wrong, they won’t die for not being able to afford. And people who are sick are also able to afford it.

I think for a rich country it is the minimum.

[haxmal]

documentary intended for: americans
documentary watched by: germans

[cesarhernandez]

I used to be against Universal Healthcare but after living in Germany I’m all for it, I’d rather pay taxes knowing where it goes as opposed to being extorted by Insurance Companies, Hospitals, and Big Pharma

[Julian_Kurt]

When I go to a doctor here in Germany. I give someone the card from my Krankenkasse and its all done. I don't even see bills or have to call with the Krankenkasse to get something approved. Hope more people around the world can have this luxury in the future