Reply #5: I have health insurance in Germany

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The system I believe is somewhat unique here because there is both public and private health insurance. If you make over ~47,000 € / year then you can opt to take private insurance. If you are less than that, then you must take the public goverment insurance. Approximately 90% of Germans have public, and 10% have private. Public tends to be more expensive....but there are some benefits over the private. For example, if only 1 family member is working, that working family member´s policy covers the whole family. Private insurance on the other hand you must have a policy for every person in your family regardless if they are working or not.

Private insurance companies here also cherry pick there customers....if no private insurace will take you, then the public insurance must insure you. However, I believe this will change in 2008 with a new law requires that private insurace can no longer refuse anybody and must offer a basic health care plan to you.

To give you an idea of cost, I have private insurace and I currently pay 275 € a month (mid-thirties male) with a 150€ a year deductible (that also includes 1000€ of dental work per year). I could get it cheaper, but I prefer to have a low deductible. I am also self-employed...so I have to pay the whole amount. If I was employed, companes here are required to pay 50% of your health insurace cost.

Goverment insurance is charged as a % of your income. The percentage is ~ 12 to 14% of your income up to 47000 €. I also find German health care very good.

The German health care system is having financial problems and I believe within the next 5 to 10 years...both private and public health care will be merged into 1 system.