I've read a great deal about comparing Europe to the USA. I find that a completely incorrect comparison. The USA is one Country. Europe (actually a continent) is probably denoted to mean the European Union. While there are EU regulations, each member country is still indepentent and has their own laws and regulations. While this may not be the ideal solution under for such a Union, it is so.
Alan, in Germany I pay roughly 570 Euros per month for my medical plan, my employer contributes 230 Euros. I pay the first 2,100 Euros of annual bills I may submit to my medical insurance. I hope you aren't really of the impression that all medicine in Europe (which country? there is no European medical system or insurance) is free. It ain't. It's f'n expensive!! And when I retire in less than four years, I'll have to pay my monthly contributions without any employer's contributions.
I read a great deal of crap being written about the EU and the USA. It's being stated as fact. I wish there were some great, wise book in which all Facts were written. There isn't. Wikipedia isn't always completely right either. Subjects aren't just black or White, right or wrong, left or right.
Most German residents (approx. 70 million people) are members of the government health system. If your gross salary is less than 56,250 Euros per year, or 4,688 Euros per month in 2016 then membership in the GKV is mandatory. The government health insurance scheme is administered by approximately 120 Krankenkassen and they charge the same basic rate of 14.6% plus a possible median supplemental rate of 1.1% of your eligible gross salary to a maximum monthly income of 4,238 Euros (2016 figures). If you earn more than this, you do not pay a higher insurance premium. Assuming a maximum monthly premium of 775 Euros as an employee earning at or above the threshold and are therefore as a voluntary member, your contribution is approximately 425 Euros and your employer will pay approximately 350 Euros. The general minimum period of membership with a particular Krankenkasse is 18 months. You can switch government health fund providers by giving two months notice after 18 months membership or if a supplemental premium is demanded or increased.
The medical benefits provided include in-patient (hospital) care as a ward patient with the doctor on duty at your nearest hospital, out-patient care with registered doctors (Kassenärzte) and basic dental care. Please note that there is no coverage for private doctors or surgeons, a private room in hospital, alternative/homeopathic medical care, dental implants, and vision products for adults or any medical benefits outside of Europe. Your non-working dependents living at your address in Germany are presently insured at no additional cost and simply need to be registered with the same Krankenkasse as the paying member.
If you choose to join the German government system, you can register with any of the available Krankenkassen which are non-profit associations administrating the government health scheme. Some (for instance AOK, TK, BEK, DAK) are very large and have millions of members while others (often called BKKs) might have just a few thousand members. This does not mean that the benefits are very different, as all health insurance funds must stick to the government regulations on the minimum they offer. The premiums may also vary somewhat due to the new regulations and it would also be optimal to research which voluntary supplemental programs the Krankenkasse offers in order to be able to participate in for instance a no-claims bonus, free checkups or discounts on health travel plans. Tip: Make sure you ask about the possibility of communicating in the English language to make your life easier, though only a limited number of Kassen actually offer this service and have English speaking staff.
You and your dependents must also become members of the government long-term nursing care scheme (Pflegepflichtversicherung). This covers some of the cost of meeting personal nursing needs, such as the feeding and bathing of those who become substantially disabled. A new reform of the nursing care has been instituted and this has caused an increase of the cost. The cost is either 2.35% or 2.6% of your gross salary (maximum approximately 110 Euros per month if you have no children) of which your employer pays only up to 49.79 Euros.
If you would like insurance coverage to supplement the government system benefits, you can purchase a policy from any private health insurance company, German or international; for instance if you would like access to and reimbursement of costs for a private doctor and a private room in hospital, homeopathy and other alternative treatment or higher dental reimbursements. Emergency evacuation from places outside Germany included with a private travel insurance policy should also be considered as these are not paid for by the state health insurance plan and it would be very costly to have to pay for such benefits out of pocket.
Public health insurance funds sometimes offer supplemental insurance plans from a particular provider, offering a group rebate. Such tied plans are not always ideal as you have a wider choice of benefits on the private health insurance market.
In the UK the Health Service is paid for through general taxation at 20% base above UKL 11,000 p.a. 40% above UKL 43,000 p.a and 45% above UKL 150,000 p.a. and National Insurance paid as either a percentage of gross pay or rates as low as UKL 2.60 a week for self employed. Free at point of delivery, no forms, no signatures just an NHS number given at birth.
Nothing is for free, but everyone in Europe is covered for life,young, old, sick,poor, unemployed et al.
