American Reacts to "My Healthcare Experience in Europe as an American"

[@mmcbey1401]

The fundamental problem in the US is that the healthcare system is run as a business and businesses exist to make profits. Most other countries run their healthcare as a government-run operation and costs are WAY less.

[@markpalmer8083]

The fundamental problem with the US, is that all human life is not regarded as equally important, so those with money are treated well, whist those without are left to suffer, or die. That attitude permeates throughout all of US society.

[@JohnDoe-xz1mw]

you dont need healthcare system in that sentence, everything in the us is run as a business even in elections somehow they see rich or busniessman as a plus while everwhere else thats an emediat red flag for a public office job. or as george carling said it, its a coast to coast shopping mall and americans think thats just dandy :P

[@claudiavalentijn1457]

profit over people! it's not health CARE in the us, it's health INDUSTRY@@markpalmer8083

[@WolfHeathen]

Same goes for Sweden. The main difference is that instead of paying out-of-pocket (which we do to some extent), we pay many times more in taxes than americans do. We have the second highest income tax in the world, alcohol tax is 70%, VAT is 25% and restaurant tax is 12.5%, just to name a few. Pretty much everything you do in Sweden comes with added tax.

[@WolfHeathen]

@@markpalmer8083 If money was more important they'd prioritize money over health. If you choose death over hospital bills, that's not the health care system's fault. That's your choice. The problem is that americans should save their money like they do college funds for their kids. If they had a health care fund they'd have a much easier time paying their hospital bills.

[@herrbart4082]

Ich bin als Arbeitnehmer, in Deutschland gesetzlich Krankenversichert. Anfang des Jahres bin ich schwer erkrankt und war ein Monat im Krankenhaus, ich hatte mehrere Computertomographien und wurde zweimal geröntgt, dazu zwei Mal operiert und war 3 Wochen auf der Intensiv Station. Ich mußte 280€ zuzahlen für das Krankenhaus. Auf der Arbeit habe ich mehr als drei Monate gefehlt, ich bekomme, bei Krankheit, als gesetzlich Krankenversicherter 6 Wochen meinen vollen Lohn und danach ca. 70 Prozent von meinem Lohn als Krankentagegeld. Danke für unsere gesetzliche Krankenkasse. Ich bin vollständig geheilt und gehe wieder Vollzeit arbeiten, bei meinem Arbeitgeber. Alle meine Kollegen und mein Chef sind froh, daß ich überlebt habe

[@Oma_Wetterwachs]

Ich habe als Kind eine Krankenhaustagegeldversicherung bekommen. Je nachdem wie hoch die ist verdienst du in der Krankenhauszeit dadurch noch mehr dazu als du draußen bekommen würdest 😂 Ich bekomme "leider" nur 330€ pro Monat raus, aber dadurch zahle ich nichtmal die 280. Kostenfaktor ist sehr gering pro Jahr. Unter 40€. Und ich musste leider schon oft ins Krankenhaus.

[@jessovenden]

Amsterdam Ed nurse: We have another tourist. Haha this one has a sore foot from dancing.

[@moomah5929]

Unser System ist gut, aber nicht ohne seine Probleme. Wenn man durch die Löcher im System fällt, wird ein Schuldenberg aufgebaut, welcher monatlich um den Beitrag und 1% Säumniszuschlag auf die Gesamtsumme wächst. Hat man kein Einkommen, wird einfach ein fiktives Einkommen herangezogen und anhand dessen die Beiträge berechnet. Schuld daran trägt die Versicherungspflicht, die man nicht umgehen kann, auch wenn man seit Jahren nicht beim Arzt war. Ein Zahlen für die Untersuchung oder Behandlung direkt beim Arzt ist nicht möglich. Auf der anderen Seite gibt es Unternehmer, welche sich privat versichern mussten, bei denen das Geschäft aber inzwischen so schlecht läuft, dass sie sich die private Krankenversicherung nicht mehr leisten können, aber auch nicht zurück in die Pflichtversicherung gelassen werden. Diese häufen ebenfalls einen solchen Schuldenberg an, der monatlich um Beitrag + 1% Säumniszuschlag auf die Gesamtsumme wächst. Soviel ich damals (als ich ohne Einkommen - die Pflege eines Familienangehörigen wurde mir ja nicht bezahlt - 14k Euro nachzahlen sollte) erfahren habe, besteht das Problem erst seit der Schröder-Regierung, welche die Versicherungspflicht so festgesetzt haben. Vorher war es auch möglich, unversichert zu sein. Nicht einmal Mitarbeiter von diversen Ämtern wussten davon und waren überrascht, als sie davon erfuhren. In Großbritannien zahlt man nur, wenn man Einkommen hat und es wird kein fiktives Einkommen herangezogen. Dort ist nur das Problem, dass die Beiträge wohl zu niedrig angesetzt sind, um die NHS zu finanzieren. Von der Pflegeversicherung will ich gar nicht erst anfangen, nachdem meinem Familienangehören wegen langjähriger Bettlägerigkeit die Amputation der Füße drohte und die Ärzte die Hände über den Köpfen zusammenschlugen, als sie erfuhren, dass ihm keine Pflegestufe gewährt wurde (während sein Bruder mit Pflegestufe hinter dem Haus Holz gehackt hat - lauf unserer gemeinsamen Ärztin, welche ihm beim Hausbesuch überraschte) und erst durch Druck der Ärzte die Pflegeversicherung ihm diese gewährte.

[@ColonelCoockie]

so for the ones who don't speak german(i speak dutch but can understand a little): He works in Germany so he naturaly gets insurance. Then in the beginning of the year he got really sick, laid a month in the hospital, had 3 röntgenfoto's taken, 2 operations and was 3 weeks on intensive care. He had to pay 280 euro's in total what is 307 USD for the hospital while still getting 100% of his loan. Over 3 weeks it will be reduced to 70% if he's still sick. He's really happy for the place he lives, and his friends are just happy that he survived. That's the rough translation, as a belgian I can say we are really lucky to have the same system as Germany and other european country's.

[@Oma_Wetterwachs]

@@ColonelCoockie After 6 weeks He get 70% (I think it is 80%, but I'm Not Sure. This Money pays the insurance company for max. 18 Months). He was 3 Months in Hospital. You pay every day 10 Euro, but max. 280 Euro per year. But hey, good Work. Sorry, I'm a bit confused and have a cold today. I'm Not Sure If Belgium has exactly the Same healthcare system ❤️

[@kida12]

A friend's son went to Finland (I think) as an exchange student and upon landing had severe abdominal pain. Turned out he had appendicitis and had to have surgery. My friend was dreading the medical bills but came to find out that care for ALL minors was completely free! The US is the only first world country with third world healthcare availability and employment benefits.

[@christianc9894]

The Americans said that setting up a healthcare system for the entire population was very complicated, impossible to do, everyone knew that in the USA. The Europeans didn't know all this, so we did it.

[@baramuth71]

The question is, why is it so complicated, do you have an answer to that?

[@christianc9894]

@@baramuth71 For the system to work as it does in Europe, we must stop considering health as a consumer good and not allow doctors and insurers to force-feed it on the backs of patients. The US mentality is not ready for this, the dollar god is above everything and your leaders prefer to enrich your billionaires than take care of the population.

[@dutchman7623]

@@baramuth71 Because the entire system needs to change.

[@Anson_AKB]

@@baramuth71 as @christianc already wrote : _"complicated and impossible ... everyone knew that in the USA"_ ... when everybody "knows" that it doesn't work and everybody "knows" that social=socialism=evil, introducing such a system really is difficult if not impossible.

[@grahvis]

It doesn't have to be one system for the entire United States, the states could have their own systems, as do the countries in Europe.

[@maryannecomment3302]

I feel terrible for the ordinary US citizen that has to pay so much for healthcare. Every country in Europe has a different healthcare system, but it is always affordable, especially compared to the USA. We complain too about our healthcare systems, but our problems are so much less than the problems in the USA.

[@GuyWets-zy5yt]

Cheap in Belgian,France and Luxemburg too.

[@davidpelc]

As a Czech citizen i payed 0,- for x-ray and i pay 0,- for analysis and 0,- for visiting doctor in general.🙂 Yes, of course i pay mandatory insurance, but if i was pensioner, unemployed, student, child, i don´t pay even the insurance and i will be still insured.🙂 But i get your point that here in EU healthcare is way cheaper even without insurance.

[@junimondify]

I broke my ankle/leg just last December. I got to the hospital by ambulance, got multiple x-rays done, was operated on twice, stayed in the hospital for 9 days, got crutches and a walker for my foot, regular wound care by my doctor and six sessions of physiotherapy and paid about 150€ all-in-all. I love our system.

[@henrietn]

If the future of the US is young people like yourself, its outlook is sunny. Greetings from a Belgian.

[@sudipdas9389]

I lived in Germany and now in Switzerland 🇨🇭 these countries are not only pioneers in medical research but also has ridiculously good doctors. The type of care you get is commendable.

[@seldakaya0414]

Here in Germany you even have an x-ray-passport, where all the x-rays are noted, because they can cause cancer and you shouldn’t have too many… That’s how much they care about health. And the sentence „I have health insurance“ is very weird for a German, it’s maybe equivalent to „I was born“. 😅 It automatically raises the question „Okay, who hasn’t…?“ Oh, right, many, many US citizens! 🙈

[@RustyDust101]

In addition to that, if it's not urgent, one doctor may request access to previous x-rays taken if they pertain to the same area, and nothing significant has changed. But yes, the x-ray pass makes certain that you get an x-ray ONLY if it can't be avoided and is truly necessary.

[@dorisschneider-coutandin9965]

It's also remarkable that the x-ray recommendation from The Netherlands was easily accepted in a German hospital ER. Try that in the U.S. with something similar brought over from Canada. My eye-doctor is in Vienna, and her prescriptions for glasses or so are perfectly valid in Germany, where I live.

[@hellemarc4767]

In France, when we go abroad (anywhere on the planet), we can ask for a card from the health insurance, it's free and it lasts one year. If we need to go to the doctor's or to the hospital, we pay nothing at all, our health care insurance pays for everything.

[@gfimadcat]

You can even go without the card, just means you have to pay for it yourself first and then declare with CPAM and get your money back :D

[@cranberrybe]

sorry but no. that's a european insurance card. if you need an international insurance, going outside the EU, you need to PAY FOR IT. and as to the european health care they will only pay you back what you would get back for french health care. so, if you paid more, the pay back won't cover the totality.

[@Kate-qq3ez]

I confirm the card - free- allows you to get health services in the 27 countries of the E U. For countries outside EU you can get refund of your expenses, but as in some countries this is really expensive (like the US or China) it is good to take a special insurance for these countries.

[@thundercat9997]

Pretty sure French citizens don't have an universal health insurance like that, I think you mean the EU Health Insurance Card which only works in EU countries. That also doesn't guarantee a free healthcare for you, you just pay the same amount which it would cost you in France. Also private travel health insurances from different companies can issue a card that covers your expenses anywhere abroad but it's also not guaranteed to be free in the destination, only if the clinic etc accepts it. This means you might need to pay all the treatments by yourself and then back in France you claim it from the insurance company yourself.

[@gfimadcat]

@@thundercat9997 mostly, the EHIC works in Europe, for being abroad I do believe you can get additional insurance just for the trip which will result in not having to pay up front if you're outside of Europe. There is of course always the option of just coughing it up yourself and then declaring with CPAM (for which you don't have to be back in France, mind you, it can all be done remotely)

[@apmoy70]

My best friend's son was born with a congenital condition called Fallot's tetralogy (which means his heart has a number of life threatening defects) and he underwent 2 open heart surgeries till the age of 8. He's now in his mid-twenties and must replace one of his heart valves. It cost my friend's 0€ for the two surgeries, and will cost his son 0€, to replace the tricuspid valve. Thank God I live in a country that respects its citizens and don't see them as walking wallets. I can't even fathom what could have happened if the boy was born in the States

[@glowiedetector]

if he was born in the us? immediate bankruptcy!

[@allangoodger969]

The US health care system is working perfectly. It makes money for everyone. The patient is seen as the cash cow.

[@Oma_Wetterwachs]

In Germany they make only an X-ray If you need one, but Not because of Money, it's because they will prevent you because too many X-Ray can be unhealthy. But WE have also some hospitals which makes it to get money 😂

[@lpdude2005]

Unfortunately - it doesn't work at all. Despite the fact that you all have insurance - the US spends more % of your state budget on is not because it is better - but because 66% of the costs of the hospitals are administration costs and paperwork. You have 10,000 administrations - while in Europe you only have one for a large area. I live in Norway. We have 4 administrations to maintain and build new hospitals and only one administration to buy in medicines for the whole country. That's the difference. The state builds a hospital - and pays the entire cost at once. You borrow money to build a hospital and pay it off in 50 years - That is, you pay for the hospital - at least 3 times.

[@MYoung-mq2by]

The US health system is not working for everyone. It's definitely not making money for everyone. The majority of people, the cash cows are not benefitting.

[@jessovenden]

Yes. A younger generation of Americans will, I hope, rise up and start the big changes.

[@RealConstructor]

The profit hospitals make goes to the shareholders, not the hospital. They need fundraisers and charity to get a new X-ray machine, new hospital wing, operating rooms etc. while shareholders get the money and run. In my country the hospitals are a public-private company funded by their own income and the money they get from insurance companies. The insurance companies forced the hospitals to work efficiently which is a good thing, but they got to much power and forced hospitals to merge and close smaller hospitals. We now have hardly any rural hospitals left, only cities have big hospitals. Our biggest city, the capital only has 3 hospitals in 5 locations. One in East and One in West from one hospital, one in South and one in Southeast from one hospital and one in North from one hospital. All are big hospital factories, like we call them, while small hospitals and clinics have closed. So a city of almost 900K inhabitants has 5 hospitals. I live in the rural west of our country and the closest small hospital (20min drive) has closed a few years ago after a forced merger. Now I have to go to one in the city which takes me at least an hour by car and an hour and a half if I go by public transport. But hey it keeps the insurance premiums low, I pay €140/month for mandatory basis insurance, voluntary additional insurance and dentist insurance. We have a mandatory deductible of €385 a year, which I had voluntarily raised to €885 in order to pay a lower premium. Initially it isn’t a wrong system, our healthcare costs are one of the lowest in the western world, but the power of insurance companies needs to be limited and well monitored.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

A long time ago I hyperventilated for the first time (and last time) in my life. I thought I had a heart attack. I am Dutch, I was in Sweden and I went to the hospital in Stockholm by ambulance. They checked my heart and nothing was wrong. So, I asked what I owed them. Nothing. The nurse said, that is hospitality service for tourists. I wonder if this is still the case, because the system can be abused easily. Fun fact, the (then) future Dutch queen Maxima was in that Stockholm hospital too that day whilst on an official visit to Sweden. She broke her ankle, but I did not see her, unfortunately.

[@Steff2929again]

Nordic citizens and EU-citizens pay the same fees as a Swedish citizen would. With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you pay the same amount for medical and dental care as those who live in the country. Fees for other citizens are regulated by international conventions. People from other countries who become ill while temporarily in Sweden are always entitled to emergency care, or necessary care which cannot be postponed until they return home.

[@andremeirose213]

Time for anecdotal evidence. In August my appendix/caecum/Blinddarm, whatever you call this little bastard, tried to kill me. I went to my family doctor, he did his thing, then ordered a bloodtest and showed me the results the next day with the words "Either I call an ambulance or you organize someone, who take you to the hospital". At the hospital another bloodtest were made, a CT-scan and the same day I lied on the surgery table and the surgeon slit me like a pig, because there was not just the appendix that made problems, there were abscesses and an unholy amount of pus. Two weeks ago a letter from my insurance company came in that said "Mr. Meirose, you owe us 60 euros". SIXTY BUGS! for a bloodtest, a CT-scan, the surgery, medication, physical therapy, food and a stay of 5 days at the hospital (+about 60 more for bandages and meds I had to buy after hospital at the local pharmacy). And THIS is how it should be. If someone is sick, people should care the least about what did/does it cost.

[@kerouac2]

In France the cost of a doctor's visit went from 25 euros to 26.50 on November 1st and people were horrified, even though the amount is later refunded to us by the national health insurance (or not, if you don't live in France).

[@stephenveldhoen]

I am Canadian Joel and here in Canada our healthcare is great. Just because our wait times is long is because it's based on the seriousness of the illness or injury okay. That's how you get treated but you still get treated by a Doctor. Doctor's here in Canada are the best and they do an excellent job. We rarely have any Malpractice lawsuits in Canada 🇨🇦. In the US there are a lot of Malpractice lawsuits that happen against Doctor's and that's bad. I had a hip replacement done in 2018 in July at 49 years old because I was hit by a car as a pedestrian. My life was changed forever because of it. My entire hip replacement surgery was all covered by Universal Healthcare. I gave my Provincial health card and they swiped it and everything was covered medications, hospital stay, physio, surgery. I didn't pay a thing except for my Boyfriends parking $30 for the day. I am grateful for Universal Healthcare which came into affect in 1945 from the Federal Government of Canada 🇨🇦.

[@Robalogot]

I'm a remote worker for a major US TV station that rhymes with sox smorts. I was offered a promotion, but one of the conditions was that I worked locally. So I got my "extraordinary alien" visa and set off looking for a house. But after a few months, I realized that I couldn't give up the luxury of having that social catch net if things go bad. The US is a great place to live if life doesn't throw you curveballs, better than any other place in the world when it comes to acquiring prosperity. But that's not how life works, get that curveball at a point in your life when you're just out of college, or get multiple issues stacked upon one another, and you might be screwed for the rest of your life. So I thought it wasn't worth it and moved back to Belgium, earning 1/3rd of what I was offered. But still living great, with my 25 vacation days, with parental leave, with education for my children, with healthcare, not having to worry about any curveballs. I know that if I don't go on a bender, I don't have to worry about living my life. Something that would have been impossible in the US. Sure less money in my bank account, but that doesn't matter one bit. And that's just my own situation, I also don't have to feel the guilt of how my society lets people suffer.

[@popeye807]

A fair while ago I had to go to hospital ( I'm an Aussie by the way)to get a lobe of my right lung taken out I went in had the operation, with 2 weeks in intensive care, physio and it ended up costing me nothing thank to the Australian Medicare. I just can not fault the treatment I received either. A lot of Aussies bag Medicare but I'd rather go through Medicare than go bankrupt through medical bills.

[@wendymorrison5803]

Me too. Diagnostics, imaging, Cancer surgeries and the associated costs, 20 days in hospital, chemo therapy, radiotherapy, annual follow ups. ALL WITHOUT A BILL. I pay taxes, yes, but look at the services that people get in Australia.

[@jessbellis9510]

Medicare isn't as good as it used to be due to the Morrison government secretly cutting a bunch of tests off, along with not properly updating the Medicare rebate for a decade. I hope in the next couple years there is a focus on restoring and improving our system. That being said, if I had deal with the US health system I'd probably be bankrupt, homeless or dead.

[@tfrensch]

My godchild was in America with friends last year and came into contact with a fox in the national park. He was suspected of having rabies. So all three of them went to a clinic, had a consultation and were advised to be vaccinated against rabies (a total of 5 vaccinations are necessary). They were given one vaccination and two ampoules of the vaccine to take back to Germany, because the vaccinations have to be given at very short intervals. Over a year later, they received invoices from the hospital via a Swiss billing company (!). All three invoices were incomplete (the activities were not listed exactly, nor were the vaccines) and all three invoices had different amounts: approx. 20k$, 28k$ and 38k$. An absolutely absurdly high bill! The vaccine costs €70 per ampoule in Germany (i.e. a total of €350), the vaccination itself is paid for by health insurance. How can it be that a fairly common vaccine in the USA costs 100 times more than in Germany? By the way: the vaccine used is identical here and there!

[@luciebrisson5881]

As a Canadian, I'll admit freely that many European healthcare systems, like the ones in Germany and France, seem better than our own. However, I would never trade our system for the one in the US. Yes, wait times for a regular checkup or elective surgeries can be long but when it comes to emergencies, tests, treatments, follow ups, we are very well taken care of and we never need to worry about whether we can afford it. What we pay into it covers everything.

[@jennyh4025]

In Germany wait times for elective surgery and routine stuff can be long as well. I usually schedule my dentist and thyroid appointments months in advance. But everything acute is actually taken care of fast.

[@kazkasKitoBaisaus]

Just to explain the situation in rough numbers. I live and work in Lithuania, we're the part of the EU, broke free from Soviet occupation in 1990s. I earn about 130k before taxes, there are two type of health care taxes that I pay. The mandatory one for the free healthcare is 7% a month (9k yearly). If I want to be eligible for compensation when I lose job, lose ability to work, have a child, get old and get pension - I need to pay around additional 12% tax. These taxes have their floor and ceilings. You don't have to pay they if you earn less than 5eur/hour, and if If you do earn more - you're only taxed for the difference. Once you earn a certain amount (100k for me) you no longer need to pay them too.

[@davidberriman5903]

I thought The United States was the "land of the free". What is free? Do they even charge you for breathing? If they don't it is probably because they haven't worked out a way to do it. I just went outside my home, got down on my hands and knees and kissed Australia.

[@DanielBatt]

Well, my experience just adds context to these experiences. The last time I needed a hospital was in Maine. I probably had to wait over two hours to see someone, as I had re-injured a slipped disc in my back. But, everyone at the hospital was amazing, especially one of the nurses, who got on crazily well with my son, and told me how much she wanted to visit Australia. Well, after about five hours I was discharged with a few doses of Oxy (Endone), and left with the contact details of the two nurses who just loved Australia. I nevee heard from them again, but my son adored the female nurse and learned that people can love you in person, but would never even return your call.

[@DanielBatt]

Anyway, when I got home I had a bill for over $600, mailed to me (which might not happen to citizens). But, at the time, the multinational beast was pretty close to being bankrupt, and there was no way I could contact anyone there. Maybe it's hard for a business going bankrupt to retrieve even minor debts owed to a minor subsidiary. I just wanted to pay the bill, but couldn't find the right entity to pay.

[@DanielBatt]

Anyway, I was in southern California and only required a new script. I turned up to a practice in Arcadia and the 'lady at the front of the desk' didn't seem to care about what I needed, but was more concerned with whether my global health insurance was 'socialised medicine', or not. Look, I said, forget the structure of the nation that covers me, try and deal with your responsibilities as a medic. She palmed ne off with some of those free samples doctors are given to, all too often.

[@lyndarichardson4744]

Joel, I hope you and all like minded US citizens lobby really hard to get things changed in the US health care system !

[@Packless1]

...difficult...too much money involved... ...if it's 'profit vs. the people', there's little doubt who wins...! ☹

[@hape3862]

FYI: The health care system in Germany is _not_ run by the government (in contrast to France or the UK). In fact, it is very similar to the US's system: We have hundreds of private _for-profit_ insurance companies _exactly_ like in the US. But we also have around a hundred _non-profit_ health care insurances, that are run as self-governed free enterprises that compete with each other and the private ones. Every German is obliged by law to be insured, but we can choose and switch between them as we like. Almost all doctors and hospitals are obliged to treat everyone regardless of the insurance company he has. We just let them scan our insurance card at the counter, and the billing is then done between the doctor/hospital and the insurance company without involving the patient anymore. The Government only sets the rules for the system and pays the monthly payments for people who benefit from the welfare system, like the jobless, asylum seekers, hell, even tourists - and for soldiers and its own officials. Children and spouses without own income are usually insured for free with the main earner in a family. Why do I explain this so in detail? Because the only difference to the US is the fact that we have these non-profit health insurances - it should be relatively easy to implement these in the US as well, and voilà universal health care for everyone, without turning your system upside down! Bonus fun facts: Germany, together with the Netherlands, is #2 in the world with regards to wait time, just a tiny bit after #1, Switzerland! Our per capita health care costs are roughly _half_ of those in the US. We pay 7.3% of our monthly taxable income for health insurance, but with a cap at ≈800€ (for high earners).

[@Brainreaver79]

the difference is i believe, that the government caps the prices or something along those lines..

[@funchildrenchannel3913]

I think the stereotype of the long wait times can also be because of wrong use of the local system. Like over here the system is not designing you go to the ER with every problem. Like the person in the video did, you go to a doctor's practice with this. And if the doctor thinks you need more specialized help, (s)he will write a recommendation. You will not be send away from the ER, but their will be a triage. And people who come in with a real emergency and/or a recommendation from a doctor will be treated first. Again, nobody will be send away, but if you come to an ER without an emergency it is possible you have to wait a while if the ER is busy with emergencies. If you are lucky and it is a calm moment, you'll also be looked at right away in an ER. In my local hospital they fixed this problem by making a regular doctor's practice at the entrance of the ER. So the ER doesn't get flooded with non-emergency patients. The same at the regular doctor. Best is to make an appointment. This is for the day itself or the next day. Because a lot of the people at the waiting room have an appointment. If you randomly show up, again you will be helped, but you have to wait until the doctor has a free moment. Ofcourse if the doctor sees you aren't very well, (s)he will do a triage and look at you immediately, postponing the appointments a little bit. But since a lot of doctor's now work together and/or calculate a little extra time for each visit, the appointment schedule is back on track fairly quickly.

[@CaptainStuhlgang420]

Please add the Videos ur watching in the Video description. They put so much effort in they're videos, it would be fair

[@JohnResalb]

Well, I think its true to say that most Americans haven't been to Europe, because understandably, its a long way and its expensive. Then, in addition, we have to ask the question - those who DO make it over here - how many have needed to go to our hospitals? Health insurance for ME coming to the States on holiday is the one biggest headache I have to tackle, because at the end of the day, the big question is - how much would the insurance company pay out, and are they "in league" with the hospital to bump up the charges??

[@flintlock539]

Hi Joel , it's an interesting video. In Belgium when I go to my doctor I pay 4 euros. Normally it's 26 euros but I pay 4 euros and the other 22 euros is paid directly from the social security to my doctor. An American visiting Belgium will pay 26 euros (pierre)

[@LutzAlbrecht-Mylenium]

For measure I would like to mention that you can get bogged down in the German health system. You can spend hours at an ER and referrals to specialists can take weeks and months if you're not living in a big city with medical practitioners being abundant. The guy in the video really got lucky. Also public healthcare doesn't cover everything and some services have to be paid extra. Probably nowhere near as bad as the US, though, and yes, still affordable with private plans/ supplementary insurance/ out of pocket payments.

[@vit.budina]

I'm very grateful to live in the EU, it's the best balance of socialism and capitalism I've seen in the world so far.

[@victoriadriscoll3931]

Well I thank God every day the our NHS in UK. Even with all it fault at the moment. ❤️❤️🙏🙏

[@nobodx]

A collegue of mine was diagnosed the sametype of cancer as walter white had in breaking bad (funny sidenote: is was the around same time the series aired, and he watched it in hospital) His entire medical bill was something around 10eur per day for wifi

[@carefulwatcher3073]

The comment has often been made that if Breaking Bad had been set in Europe it would have consisted of 1 episode ! 1) a) you're not well b) go to doctor & hospital c) you've got cancer d) your paid-for treament starts tomorrow ... next drama please !

[@LB-my1ej]

I’m thankful every day that I live in the UK and NEVER get a medical bill. Being of a certain age I have used the NHS and I’ve always had an excellent experience.

[@Samark-J]

@@hexasides6411 None of that is true.

[@Samark-J]

​@@hexasides6411 Get help. This is unhinged.

[@Samark-J]

@@hexasides6411 Refuting tabloid lies in an impossible task. You need to do better. Provide proof.

[@Sofasurfa]

Can only speak as I find. NHS has saved my life not once but twice and that of my baby. 1989 saved my life and that of my baby girl, 2011 saved my life. In 2019 I had a full right knee replacement but I did have to wait just over six months for that, although to be fair I got bumped due to a major RTA with multiple casualties and then when in 2022 I smashed my leg and dislocated my foot they repaired it with two metal plate and 21 screws, this was instead of amputating below the knee and had me up and walking again within three months. So To any one who disrespects our NHS you’re a silly idiot you could be living somewhere where you don’t a free at point of use system and have the potential of medical bankruptcy. I’m just saying 😊

[@ViviNorthbell]

The U.S. of A. need more people like you !

[@NGK-EchoYT]

I once had an X-ray on my middle finger, because I had a metal splinter in it. They then did a small surgery on my finger in order to get the splinter out. Since I got the splinter into my finger at work, it counted as a work accident, thus I didn't have to pay anything, because in Germany, where I'm from, any sort of medical treatment required because of a work related injury is fully covered by insurance

[@sophiegoss8378]

Makes me realise how lucky we are for the nhs recently I had a stay in hospital I had an overnight stay lots of blood tests x ray ct scan and canuler inserted by ultrasound and I did not get a bill at the end of it

[@sandradulbecco5190]

As a french, I never pay anything either it is at the doctor, dentist, xray, etc...it is all covered by Social Security and health insurance (which is paid by my boss)

[@nco1970]

To be fair, it is not really free. The health care system is funded by a levy on salary, as the pension system and the unemployment insurance. On the whole, more than half my boss spends on me goes directly to the State. But it is more than worth it.

[@moniquehenry4041]

Yes and France has a mixed system : there is also a private sector (more expensive) and the national security refunds patients only on the base of the public sector price. The public sector also has a "responsability fare" which is not refunded. But it is very cheap : 1 euro for a general practioner visit and 0.5 euro for a box of efficient proven drug (it is more for drugs which are considered as not very efficient, as listed by the State administration)

[@spursgog835]

Brits always take out travel insurance to ensure health cover when abroad which even includes an emergency flight home. It’s not at all expensive,

[@Oma_Wetterwachs]

But yes, my father was attacked by dogs in the early 90s in Florida. German healthcare paid fortunately the complete hospital bill. It would be insane expensive.

[@Oma_Wetterwachs]

@@hexasides6411 oh hm... My father died a few years later.... Heart Attack... Why your health insurance don't pay for the U.S.?

[@biloaffe]

We have a total of 165,686 practicing doctors and specialists in the outpatient sector in Germany in 2022. We also have 217,399 doctors and specialists in the hospitals.

[@MrSankullo]

Here is my example from Germany. On Thursday night I broke a bone in my foot while playing football with freinds. At the time I didn't know it was broken. On Friday morning the foot was hurting quite badly so I went to ER in the nearest hospital to get it checked. I got an X-ray, I saw couple of doctors and got an apointment for operation for Monday morning. I also received medication, set of crutches and an orthopedic shoe. On Monday morning I showed up at the hospital to have my operation. I was put under general anesthesia and a metal bar was installed in my foot to put the bone together. After the operation I stayed in the hospital for two nights, full board privded. Of course I also received multiple pain medications during my stay. This whole thing has costed me exctly 0€ and the notion of any kind of bill never even crossed my mind. Oh and the after care and rehabilitation will also be free.

[@Rick2010100]

The list price for a feet X-Ray is in Germany €20,98, additional layer cost €5,83 per layer (GOÄ - Fee schedule for physicians). A modern X-Ray device costs approximately the same as a Taxi car, Taxi driver can also not charge hundreds or thousends for a simple and short lift.

[@biancawichard4057]

im living in the netherlands and of cause i have insurance because it is obligatory. i have a 2 star extrain surance on top of the basic insurance cause i am chronically ill with more than 1 disease and ive insureddental care and glasses (1x per 2 year the insurance pays me a nice amount on new glasses . i need to take 20+ pill each day some of which are special and cost more. 1 pay 179 euro each month including 385 copay for the entire year which my insurance company added in my monthly cost. even tho i sometimes need expencive treatment i have never payed more than 50 euro extra in the 23 years that im sick. i go to physiotherapy 52 times a year for chronic care. do dozen times of tests in hospital yearly (echo, mri, x-rays and bloodtests) i have several braces which cost 1000+ euro each and i get insuline without paying extra. i also get care and housekeeping help and i have a mobility scooter in use (the care and scooter cost me a copay of 14.40 each month)i on top of this i get disability payment from the government plus a subsidy for rent and care and i can live comfortly of it, living in a great appartment close to Amsterdam centre with a nice garden in a great neighbourhood and my appartment building is social housing. keeping this in mind you might understand that i veel so sorry for the american people. thanx again for a great video and see you again.

[@MatheusSantos-ms9mt]

i also with long standing health problems i Live around oslo in norway. Im so happy about being an european , i just wonder if i would even have a tent to live if i was american instead

[@donfinch862]

I live in Australia. I broke my leg and badly rolled/sprained my ankle (drunk at a wedding) Went to emergency at the hospital 2 days later and had to spend 3 days for the swelling to go down. Then an operation to screw the bones together etc. Hang around for another day or so. No cost to me. That was about 2001, not sure what it's like now, things are changing a bit

[@weareborgunicomplex]

Dentist is here in the Netherlands with x-ray one in one/two years. People forget there is an alternative motive with x-rays, they can help identifying your corps.

[@Kloetenhenne]

Wtf are you trying to say? That you should take an X-Ray everytime? Because X-Rays are so good for your body? 😂

[@aussiejohn5835]

​@Kloetenhenne he is saying that when you die they can use the X-rays to identify you.

[@Kloetenhenne]

@@aussiejohn5835 of course I know that 🙄🙄 but this comment with "people forget" is implying it is important to take X-Rays frequently to be able to be identified after death.. how often is this method used for normal people? 🙄 no one should be exposed to radioactive rays at all so X-Rays should only be taken if absolutely necessary

[@aussiejohn5835]

@@Kloetenhenne I understand what you are saying and I do agree with you. However, my understanding of his comment was that you should get X-rays every 1 or 2 years for the purpose of identification.

[@Kloetenhenne]

@@aussiejohn5835 honestly.. nothing changes about teeth during one to two years. Otherwise the teeth should be taken care of better. And one filling that is missing in the last picture doesn't prevent you from getting identified. Also, they only use that in cases with unidentified causes of death and after a lot of time. Not many people lie in a forest for an extended amount of time so that would be a significant reason to take extra pictures. Especially of the head.

[@ralfschulz8578]

The bill arrives some weeks later. It's not done with a few Euros, if you have no insurance. In Germany we pay about 15% of our income for basic healthcare insurance and if you want, some Euros more for some extras.

[@Kitty-dt4yy]

"The neighbors" do not want to help pay for a healthcare system for everyone, so the motto is "every man for himself" But when it comes to the right of women to decide what happens to their bodies, that same neighbor will shout very loudly from the rooftops that their will is law and they want to decide what happens to someone else's body... how hypocritical!

[@SchmulKrieger]

I don't know why you alway compare that to pregnancy. The thing here is much worse. If you are pregnant in the US and you have to get that baby even when your financial situation does not allow it, the US charges you for giving birth ... That's the main reason why people don't want children, because the US is child unfriendly.

[@RustyDust101]

See, what happened in this video is symptomatic of the US mindset. You try to evade the outrageous costs of any medical treatment that you don't go until you have no other choice. If he had decided to go to the doctor on day two or three (at the latest) of symptoms occuring he'd have caught it before it turned really bad. With a little anti-inflammatory treatment early on he could have possibly prevented a visit to the hospital/ER. That's how you reduce overall healthcare costs. Catching something before it turns into an emergency is always far cheaper than the emergency itself.

[@chansetwo]

Today, with Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), the healthcare situation in the US has improved. You can stay on your parents insurance until you're 26 and you can't be denied for a preexisting condition. You can also buy affordable insurance through the insurance marketplace. But, Republicans have done everything possible to cripple Obamacare. What was removed needs to be put back and it needs to be expanded.

[@gerrygallen5911]

Sorry to hear you had an injury, Joel. You left out the best bit - that you got better. I broke my arm in three places, radius and ulna, in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1989. I was treated at the Vietnam-Germany Hospital (Viet Duc Hospital), X-rayed, bandaged, plaster cast, medication, and charged USD5.00. They made profuse apology for the charge. There were students with the professor of traumatology in ER. They picked up my battered trainers and passed them round examining them. Vietnam was still suffering dire post war poverty at the time. The only footwear they had was flip flops. Now Hanoi is flooded with cheap goods from China. When people saw me struggling (it was my right arm) they were very helpful. Btw, I got better.

[@sealigo3259]

man i live right next to vaals! cool to finally hear someone foreign coming to the southern part of The Netherlands alot of people miss it

[@barryford1482]

We have Medicare in Australia and if you get a bulk billing doctor the doctor would be free and here the hospital visit is free and the xray free too

[@andreisuman7853]

I think the young people in states need to make a statement against the healthcare to be a business

[@annikahallberg4453]

If you get hurt or get sick when you travel, look up if you have an travel insurance on your debit card, if you have paid your travel with that card, it’s plausible that it covers if not all but some of the medical expenses. My dad got a cut from stepping on a rock and he needed to get it cleaned and get the tenaus shot and antibiotics when we were in Lanzarote some years ago, he got the money back when he had sent in all recites to the travel agency when we got home. We live in Sweden.

[@atze1511]

To make this clear: Healthcare (in Germany) is not "free". As an employee I pay a percentage of my wage and so does the employer. The difference to the US-System is that I don't have to be afraid about co-payings in the thousands but only about 10 euros per day for the hospital. Our system is not perfect but I believe it's better than the US-system.

[@marcocorreia6846]

i live in portugal i went last time to hospital waited around 3 hours went to the doctor then make a x ray went back to the doctor got my medication and i payed for all 17 euro parking the car was 6 euro for 4 hours 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@McCool117]

I just watched your video about Australian Culture shocks, and one thing you guys kept mentioning, is watching a video about Australian wildlife. I recommend you check out "I did a thing" and his video called "Ranking the Weird Aussie Animals In My Yard!". Another good video is "Australia's Most Common Birds" by "The Backyard Naturalist".

[@GuyWets-zy5yt]

In Belgium,with normal health care insurance,23€ for 3 months, if I need to go to hospital, the room will be for 2. If a pay insurance+, I ll get a single room but cares are the same

[@paulchambers9965]

You might be surprised to know this but in Australia if you're low income or unemployed or on a pension you won't have to pay for an X-ray, Cat Scan or even a hospital stay in a public holiday. In Tasmania you won't even have to pay for an ambulance.

[@paulchambers9965]

@DiG-54321 ambulance is free in Tasmania is free if you're on a pension either disability or age or on a low income.

[@matthewsmith6330]

I took my mate to the hospital after he fell off his motorcycle and tore open his calf muscle with the foot peg, i didn't even have time to park the car and he was already being treated, he had to have minor surgery and was still out in 2-3 hours didn't cost a cent

[@lavalamp6410]

It is simple, in Australia I'll receive world class healthcare without having to pay for insurance, I will receive that healthcare free of charge because of mine and everyone's taxes paying for it and I will Never go bankrupt or be left with tens of thousands in debt because of a visit or stay to a hospital because of sickness or injury. The last time I went to the emergency department at the hospital my wait time was about an hour, but that was around 10 years ago. If I need to see my GP depending what time of the day I could probably see him either on the day or the next day. I have, in the past, walked in to the Drs surgery without an appointment and asked if there was a free slot available to see the Dr, I ended up waiting 45 minutes which was Ok. So given the choice of getting an injury and going bankrupt in an American hospital or getting free healthcare in Australia I'll choose Australia's health system every time.

[@Danceofmasks]

American citizens in Australia would have to pay quite a lot, though. If you're on Medicare (or are from a country that allows Medicare to cover you, such as the UK), then it's great. American tourists need to get health insurance.

[@lavalamp6410]

@@Danceofmasks I get travel insurance every time I go overseas, that will cover health and medical expenses and even medi-evac flights in an emergency. Also cancellations, lost luggage, among other things. But the big reason to get travel insurance is so you can actually go to some countries, like all 26 Schengen countries in Europe. They won't allow people to get a visa to visit if you don't have that insurance. The UAE and Singapore are also another couple of countries that won't allow people in if they don't have travel insurance. So if an American came here without travel insurance then they are stupid.

[@Danceofmasks]

@@lavalamp6410 You say that like this video isn't literally about an american who went to europe without health coverage.

[@DramaQueenMalena]

I'm the daughter of immigrants, and I have been working with immigrants (in different jobs, especially as German teacher) for over 20 years. From all this experience: Don't wait too long. It's easy in your early twenties. You go out a lot, you find friends because everyone at this age is interested in meeting new people. In this phase, normally you "find your tribe" because you start to live the life you want, with your values, your style, etc. Then, in the late twenties and early thirties, people normally start to get settled. Before, you find jobs more easily because your wage and benefits are not that high, and you learn German more easily. Don't miss this time slot. Because - I could be wrong, of course - it seems you are seriously considering moving.

[@diannegreenshields7421]

I slipped on my wet floor almost 2 months ago and the pain was initially excruciating, to the point that when it had JUST happened, I vomited (On my clean floor btw!! Lol). I just needed to lay where I'd landed for a minute and then (not being able to put any weight on my ankle), I managed to grab 1 of the giant cushions from my sofa, knelt on it and pulled myself along to my chair. I had to sit for a couple of hours, with my leg elevated and started noticing severe swelling and that the bruising was already a deep purple. ANYWAY, I rested my ankle for the 1st 5 weeks...MOSTLY (I was up and hobbling around the next day as I wanted to strengthen my ankle again, I HAD to go PEE every now and then and I also live alone and don't have anybody to cook for me or to pee for me! hehehe. LOL). I'm from Glasgow, Scotland and the ER is also a nightmare for waiting, so I didn't bother with it (I'm also a weirdo!) Lol. I suspected a broken ankle and by this point, the swelling had made my foot/ankle look twice their normal size and the bruising was all over my foot, including the sole and going up my ankle on both sides...it was a shocking sight tbh. The pain wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! My ankle DID crack every now and then as I walked and it buckled sometimes, but otherwise...I was feeling OK, and stronger every day. I hadn't told ANYBODY about my accident until 5 weeks later. I ONLY went to the hospital for the 1st time last week because that friend scared me when she told me that she's heard of TOO many cases where people have had to get their lower leg amputated due to complications from an untreated broken ankle. I live in a top flat (apartment), and had to get down 3 flights of stairs (by going down on my bum!...LMAO), to get to the car where my sister and my brother in law were waiting to take me to the ER (where I waited for just over 2 hours to be seen!). Got a few X-Rays done and was shocked to my core when the Doctor came out and told me that I'd broken my ankle in THREE places! She was stunned when she learned that I'd been walking around on it for 5 weeks lol. She told me that most people would be in ER right away because the pain would be too intense. She also said that I was made of stern stuff (the Doctors words), to have not only tolerated that amount of pain, but to deliberately walk on it?! I was also told that I don't need an operation because the bones have amazingly started to heal in their correct positions and that IF I'd went to the hospital right after it happened, I WOULD have needed an operation to get pins inserted...(at that point, with 3 broken ankle bones, they wouldn't have known how the breaks were going to heal...better safe than sorry). SO...me being a fecking weirdo, saved me from an operation! LMFAO!! I only have to wear an ankle support boot for the next 5 weeks. OH and to top it off, in the midst of trying to get around during the last week, since the X-Rays...I've managed to break the toe right next to the big one!! (possibly by putting too much weight on it?!). I was actually wondering why it hurt and the bruising had suddenly appeared again, this time around my toes. Realized just a few days ago that my toe is resting in an awkward position. It's rubbing against and irritating the middle toe! I obviously haven't gone back to the hospital as I've broken my pinky toe TWICE (on the same foot as my broken ankle so I know what THAT felt like Lol). To complete my broken bone list during my life (IF you're interested?), I'd broken my nose TWICE and because of a deviated septum and the inability to breathe through my nose, I needed a Septorhinoplasty operation but the deviated septum came back. I had 1 more Septorhinoplasty operation about a year later...(I have a history of having some sort of fits...never been told why. They happen at random times, without much warning). The day after my operation, I had a fit...and face planked right into the metal bin in my bathroom. I woke up a wee bit later and I just remember crawling to my bed. Woke up the next morning with my white bedsheets, my bedside table, my hair, hands and face covered in blood. Walked into my bathroom and it was like a crime scene!! LOL. Blood everywhere! Needless to say, I fecked my nose up again. That's 4 times now that my nose has been broken!! I haven't bothered going back for a 3rd operation. Just thought I'd tell you about my wee Saga! (ALL of these appointments/operations have been FREE!)

[@diannegreenshields7421]

@@hexasides6411 😘

[@firemainstreet]

*Breaking Bad* would have been a terrible series if it were set anywhere in Europe. They wouldn’t have gotten more than one season out of it, and it would have been a really boring season. The plot synopsis would look like this: Chemistry teacher and married father of one, Walter White, is diagnosed with stage three lung cancer. His GP refers him to an oncologist, who prescribes a course of radiotherapy. After a period of misery and worry for his family, exacerbated by the arrival of his second child in the midst of his treatment, Walter’s cancer goes into remission and he is placed on a course of follow-up pills, along with vitamin supplements to prevent the development of brittle bones. The end.

[@Spacemarine81]

Little Story:I had a really bad crash this year in Germany. I had to stay over two weeks in hospital, got three operations, one foot had to be reconstructed with a lot of metal put inside. I have a regular health-insurance, so I paid for the whole process including xrays and a lot of painkillers over weeks about 200 Euros.

[@TerryD15]

In the UKthe Emergency Romm is known as A & E - Accident and Emergency. I recenttly had a health probem and had to 5 consultations with different doctors,I never had to wait more than 10 minutes to bve seen, in th eUK any longerwould be a scandal. The doctors were thorough and attentive and very effisient. I had 8 blood tests just eliminate various problems and on my last consultation I hade an ECG and my doctor said that she would recommend a heart scan. I was seen in a specialist cardio facility and had a scan within a week and recommended for consultation with a senior cardologist in a specxialist Hospital (one of the top UK Heart facilitires) and had an appointment within a week. I also had some Antibiotics to clear up an infection as well as some basic heart drugs. All of that within 4 weeks and at a cost of nothing. not even for the medications.

[@jjd997]

In Australia you don't pay for an x-ray at all

[@neuralwarp]

Nor us in Britain

[@Oma_Wetterwachs]

Germany, too. If you have normal German health-insurance. If you have No health insurance this will be illegal and you could go to jail (under normal circumstances this can Not be, because if you are poor the goverment pays it for you, If you are homeless there are Options to get Help but it's more complicated, but you will get Help, e.g. If you are homeless and have a stroke)... The only way to have No health insurance is Not to pay for it, If you have a salary that is high enough to pay for it or e.g. you are the owner of a company and lost all your Money and can Not pay the private health insurance because you choose to have only private health insurance. Than it could be you have Problems to get Back to Standard health insurance before you fully bankrupt.

[@jeffafa3096]

Wait times usually aren't an issue for regular healthcare in The Netherlands. Two weeks ago, I went to my doctor for my leg as well, fearing it might have been broken. I had an appointment at around 11:00 am, had a referral and went to the hospital (which was about 10 minutes away) for an X-ray, took the X-ray, and had lunch at around 13:30 in my own home. For specialized care it's very different. Waiting times can be months, if not years...

[@ruupeni]

In Finland, Sweden and Scandinavia all this is for almost free. Meaning whether You need a major surgery, it is a daily fee, that is around 40-50 euros all included. I once cut my thumb in Chicago, and as a foreigner without an insurance, the bill from hospital was really bad, and all they did was to put a band aid.

[@Pilger1L]

This guy has a way too optimistic view on the US emergency room fees - earlier this year I have been with a friend from Europe in the US. He actually has dual citizenship (one European and US). He did not have US health insurance as he lives in Europe. Luckily he had travel insurance and they paid in the end. I went with him to the ER - stayed through the entire process including payment. The good news: The ER was empty there was one person in front of us - so it only took about 20 minutes to get called into the exam room after filling out forms for about 15 minutes. In the first exam room they took his vitals and entered all of it in the computer system, then they asked him to wait in another exam room for the doctor. We waited maybe another 15 minutes there - the doctor took a look at his injury (I am not going into the details here for privacy reasons) and then recommended a strong antibiotic for which he would give him a prescription. We waited another 10 minutes for the prescription to be handed to us by a nurse - after which we went to the cashier. All in all about 1 hour has passed from walking in through the door to us being ready to leave. At the cashier they could not tell us what the final price would be - he would receive an invoice later but since he had no US insurance carrier they wanted 5,000$ deposit. We negotiated it down to 3,000$. The final invoice took 2 months to become available and was for 3,340$. Luckily his travel insurance paid for it - but Jesus! 3,340$ for 5 minutes vitals, 5 minutes with the doctor and 1 hour of air conditioned waiting time - that is out of control! The prescribed antibiotics cost an additional 180$ at the pharmacy. In Europe without insurance the same would have cost between 20 and 80 EUR, including the medicine. Doctors, nurses and medical staff should all earn a very good living - and especially nurses are paid way too little everywhere - but come on… we all know that out of those fees an absolute minimal fraction goes to them. At 10 minutes between the two medical professionals involved here that is over 20k$ per hour…

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I remember having to do an MRI when I had an injury and it was my first MRI ever. I was so scared by that machine that I dozed off lol

[@davidross5331]

I have Multiple Sclerosis and the med I have to take, 1 every day, is about 300 dollars a capsule (according to an internet search). NHS means I get it for all the tax money I have already paid.

[@SIP100Ka]

In France his visit to the doctor would have been 25 euros, he would have gotten the same pain killer pills and the same xray convocation, the xray would have either free or close to 30 euros max

[@karstenvagt1075]

In Germany the prices for medical treatment are regulated. If you are on public insurance the medical providers are paid by flat rate per case. If you are on private insurance there is the "Gebührenordnung für Ärzte (GOÄ)" = medical fee schedule which cannot be exceeded. Also public advertising for prescription drugs is prohibited.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

My way of dealing with health insurance is praying that I leave unscathed.

[@littlemouse7066]

you can go in whatever medical structure you want you're not obligated to use the public health care system if you don't like it and if you can pay for private health care but you can also choose to go to a private structure and if they have an agreement with the public health care system the government pays part of the fees. And you can have all the health insurances you want. But I must say in other european countries the public health system is not so efficient like in the Netherlands and Germany and in general in the countries in northern Europe.

[@RiccardoTheWatchHunter]

Here in Poland at a private hospital (no queue), a foot x-ray is 12 usd without insurance.

[@JohnDoe-xz1mw]

im not sure i want it getting around the us, that if you have a stress fracture it is cheaper to book a flight to a random european city, get treated and fly back home than to go to your local hospital, we all know what this would lead too if to many americans figure that out...thats right...gift shops in hospitals

[@jozefbania]

In Poland I paid 0 for tomography ( it's not true if you work they take about 120$ per month from your montlhy income - you boss pay for you using your money so its 120$ per month insurance cost )

[@rascalnz9983]

An acquaintance in the USA with health insurance found it cheaper to negotiate a private arrangement with her doctor than to claim on her insurance and make co-payments. The whole system of US healthcare is a scam that provides very poor value for money. Difficulties with public health systems in other countries often seem to be related to aging populations increasing the demand, combined with increasing expectations and the funding and staffing not keeping pace.

[@daverichards308]

I know 3 families who moved to Spain. A couple of the people are over 65. They pay 180 euros/month and it's full coverage. The ones under 65 are paying under 100/month. The older ones can live on the ss they get each month and the younger ones sold their houses and got golden visas

[@Daddy12chan]

i live in Belgium and sometimes when you go to the emergency room, it's packed, but they treat you considering your gravity and your age, a baby, for exemple will go before an adolecent with a sprain ankle, or someone bleeding will go before an other who have just a light fever. Just siting in the emergency room will cost you nothing, it's just the treatment that will cost you something, And for the price of the treatment in the hospital, yes, in the video it's the average and after you can have a part of the money back with the mutual health, in the end you have paid from your pocket only 25% of the price. (sorry if i've made mistakes in my sentences, english isn't my first language ^^)

[@epicjane]

I compare the American health system to an industrial organization.And it’s their job to make profit. Taking care of paying members is probably not their priority!

[@Oma_Wetterwachs]

Like everything in the U.S. ... Even the jail system.

[@MYoung-mq2by]

Health care should be a right not a luxury. To be able to afford to honour that right for all citizens, the citizens need to pay tax. It's not rocket science but basic math/economics. Socialism, the US swear word, has got nothing to do with it. For people who struggle there are ways to compensate so that they too are able to have access to this basic human right. When "everyone" contributes it becomes a lot more affordable. Nobody knows when they will need it or for how long. One person is not more or less deserving than another.

[@Londronable]

I know for Americans that small bit of money is laughable but for example I didn't know I needed a recommendation from my doctor to get my second dose my anti-allergy pills. So they made me pay everything. 8 euros. I called my doctor the next day and had him fill the prescription online. I went back to the phramacy(it's like 200 yards from my house) and they gave me back 6 euros. The phramacy can trade in that prescription for 6 euros from the state.

[@juanmontull8550]

I'm from Spain so I'm not even worried about all this stuff 😂✌ Very interesting video by the way

[@matshjalmarsson3008]

I recently had a pretty thorough checkup, they did a brain scan (not x-ray, not sure what it's called, you go into a tube and some kind of pictures of the brain are taken), a whatsitcalled when they smear grease on your head and put electrical connectors to it, checked my nerves with electrical cables, as well as the normal 2-3 visits to the doctor. I paid around $50 for the whole ordeal. (Sweden)

[@mikedignum1868]

Chest X-Ray-Blood test & EEG. Then the antibiotics for a lung infection which was originally thought to be heart problems.. All this cost me nothing.

[@Belladonna654]

I would suggest you do your research on the pros and cons of having the government in charge of your healthcare. What do people in these countries think about their system. Some say it's not that rosy, especially on how long it takes for them to see a physician. Be careful what you wish for.

[@broyout3586]

$500? Forget it. I visited an emergency room on a businesstrip in 2001 with a bad ear infection. They took a look at the ear, concluded it was infected and prescribed some painkillers and antibiotics. Time spent was 5 to 10 minutes. They went mild, only classified it as a 'class b emergency' where they could have gone for a class a or something, to lessen the cost a little. The bill came to $1200

[@CeiStockport-nx2qi]

The longest A&E wait was the last time and was six hours (I got to watch Kabul fall to the Taliban in real time). Sounds long and I was in real pain, but it was a busy evening and I didn't have visible injuries and refused to bitch about it, plus people were coming in with obvious injuries that needed treating straight away. When it calmed down a bit I got an x-ray first and about 20 minutes after that an MRI and about 20 minutes after that I was in a bed on the ward shot full of morphine with an IV bag of antibiotics in my arm being scolded by the staff for not stressing how much pain I was in. Turned out I had an inflamed and infected Gall bladder that would have to come out. People bitch about the NHS, but as soon as the MRI showed showed something that needed immediate treatment they had a bed for me and scheduled operation time VERY fast. The NHS has flaws and had them from the start because it was set up so fast (then became a political football), but there's no comparisons between that and the barbaric US system.

[@withoutwroeirs]

Don’t dodge dental X-rays, they can detect shadows in the gum area indicating nerve damage. That’s why folks sometimes have root canal treatment.

[@teresadavilasoares6136]

Gostava de saber quem é mais curioso em ver este tipo de comparação entre USA ou Europa, Americanos ou Europeus. E se os jovens americanos são mais curiosos, porque o impacto das diferenças deve ser enorme. O sistema na América é muito chocante e injusto

[@ojgfhuebsrnvn2781]

First time hearing about vague reasons. I don't know if it is regulated in Europe (unlikely) or just doctors are like this but every doctor i've had in my life explained the problem in details. Last time i was with skin problem and despite i said "ok i get it, whatever it is i hope medicine you prescribed will help" but he just kept explaining what it is, how does it spread etc. I thought i will be dermatologist when i leave that room.

[@redscot5651]

If you live in either Australia or the UK we have a reciprocal agreement of free treatment. I was visiting my son in London when I fell and broke 3 ribs I went to the local hospital there and got free care. My sister in law was visiting Oz once and she fell from a bike and broke her arm, they called in an after hours radiologist and was put in a cast...all free. I would hate to wonder how much that would have cost us had it happened in the US.

[@KimWilliamsmixupchannel]

I'm British born and had a big bill once for a dentist now it's always put me off going to The dentist

[@KGardner01010]

The only issue with the US healthcare system as a whole, Joel, is that it's not an actual system being run at all . . . it's basically owned by various businesses who are only in it for the profits it constantly makes . . . just as are the Insurance companies and the ambulance services . . . If people would rather die than call an ambulance to help them due to what the cost could be - it just shows what is not a good system to have anyway . . . Why can't the US have the same kind of Universal Healthcare brought in . . . ? Well, that's an easy answer, it's because businesses can't make money out of it easily enough then . . . A lot of the older more middle class middle-aged older plus citizens always say that it's "their" right to choose what their healthcare service should be like, not any government . . . But, they have been brainwashed all their lives ever since the private healthcare system was focused on by the companies they worked for in the 1950's who began to provide "better" private health care to their employees . . . Which to anyone, is a misnomer already - as US citizens are basically worked to death by their companies without any remorse . . .Bad working hours, shocking holidays (even if unpaid!), and the availability of having any paid sick days off - just show you that the low to mid paid workers are all being branded as little more than sheep to be fleeced by the companies they are working for . . . Could the US offer such a Universal System? Of course, the cost would be negligible, considering just how much of your actual taxes are already being used to pay for health care . . . which is actually 2-3 times more than any other country is paying for it . . . The Main problem about getting it started is every government you've had since the end of WW2 . . . they allow not only the Health Industry, but also the Pharma Industry to make their own rules for what things should cost. All they see are the $$$$$ signs every year to those at the top, not the problems they are causing. The Government just see the taxes they make from them (unless they are also managing to hide quite a lot of it abroad with highly paid accountants knowing a variety of loopholes.) So, basically nothing will ever change until you finally get an actual Government that is not being bought by them to try and begin to write any of these wrongs in the US - but I won't hold my breath - sadly . . . I almost forgot something else, which is because your health care is separated into these different owners, the Admin costs take up about 40% of any of the costs being paid out, too . . . (Another lose-lose situation!) . . .