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DFW

(60,822 posts)

14. Here in Germany

Thu Jun 25, 2026, 06:10 PM

Thursday

If you are not German with a German health insurance, or at least one they recognize, they usually hit you with the full boat. No mercy. The difference is that the costs are far less than in the USA. My German wife had no health insurance here at all between the ages of 60 and 65 (no, there is NO universal coverage here), when her German version of Medicare kicked in. For five years, I had to pay for her German version of COBRA, about €550 or €600 per month. At $9000 a year, it wasn't cheap, but considering that she got a deadly cancer at age 64, and was in the hospital for nearly a month, I'm sure that treatment would have cost, even here, way more than the five years of supplemental insurance that I had to pay.

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Tripper11

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Hospital Bill, German style [View all] DFW Thursday OP

30 years ago lapfog_1 Thursday #1

We can only hope popsdenver Thursday #2

I can't look. Thanks for posting. I just can't look. Have a great day. twodogsbarking Thursday #3

It was peanuts compared to what you'd pay back in the USA DFW Thursday #9

I'm glad to see you posting today& that you are well enough to do so. irisblue Thursday #4

Thanks for the kind words! DFW Thursday #6

Best wishes DFW and thanks for the perspective. ED Evolve Dammit Thursday #5

No sweat! I haven't been in an American hospital overnight since 2011. DFW Thursday #7

Here's our Canadian Health story Tripper11 Thursday #8

Here in Germany DFW Thursday #14

Stay Well DFW! We love your posts from across the pond. joanbarnes Thursday #10

If I have not been the cause of fatal boredom DFW Yesterday #37

Heheh blm Yesterday #52

Ain't freedom to choose your poison relogic Thursday #11

Actually, my Doctor in Dallas said I was right to get the procedure done in Germany DFW Thursday #15

Yes relogic Thursday #18

I left Pennsylvania in 1975, so I'm in the dark about what it is like there now DFW Thursday #20

My dear PA relogic Thursday #22

We love you, DFW. So happy to hear that everything is going well for you! ❤️ littlemissmartypants Thursday #12

As well as can be hoped for, anyway!! I am grateful for your comment!! DFW Thursday #21

Many Happy Returns to your bride and condolences for the loss of her mom. ... littlemissmartypants Thursday #23

It's amazing what can happen in fifty years! DFW Thursday #24

It really is! 🌞❤️ littlemissmartypants Thursday #25

Northern Germany, my husband's father Tree Lady Thursday #29

You can still get the citizenship without moving there right away. DFW Yesterday #42

Happy for your outcome but disappointed in the bill......... KS Toronado Thursday #13

I'm a legal resident here, so you heard wrong DFW Thursday #17

The 19% VAT tax is also used to pay for many of those "free" services MichMan Yesterday #55

My Angiogram cost $20k 14 yrs ago. Jacson6 Thursday #16

Now THAT is a typical horror story, the likes of which I hear often DFW Thursday #19

Living the life. Love that you are at it. cachukis Thursday #26

I'm still alive DFW Yesterday #43

Wisdom pays dividends. cachukis Yesterday #44

Wow, what a great happy ending story! DFW Yesterday #45

The best of times, the worst of times. cachukis Yesterday #46

Sometimes the simple things stand out DFW Yesterday #47

My grandfather was a supervisor in the Back Bay cachukis Yesterday #49

Thanks, we intend to try! DFW Yesterday #54

The Scots certainly woke it up. cachukis Yesterday #56

It would be basically free here in Sweden, so there's that. Celerity Thursday #27

Is that for legal residents, or anyone who shows up? DFW Yesterday #33

Legal residents. You do not have to be a citizen, just be living here legally. You cannot (of course) come here as a Celerity Yesterday #35

Medical tourism was, for a while, at least, a concern in Canada DFW Yesterday #36

This message was self-deleted by its author Celerity Thursday #28

I'm glad you are doing well MustLoveBeagles Thursday #30

Thanks! DFW Yesterday #34

Glad you are ok. I slipped and fell on stairs in a hotel in Beilstein, Germany and dislocated a finger. surfered Thursday #31

That sounds typical for all three countries DFW Yesterday #32

We are in Germany Old Crank Yesterday #38

If either of you had a German employer, that made all the difference. DFW Yesterday #40

We took TK insurance Old Crank Yesterday #58

Thanks! Yes, it so seems to have been successful. DFW 14 hrs ago #59

My daughter did her BA abroad in France - TBF Yesterday #39

Germany is different, not surprisingly. DFW Yesterday #41

Recommended. H2O Man Yesterday #48

A socialist country here in Europe. DFW Yesterday #50

Medical care and education. H2O Man Yesterday #53

Hospital Bill here in Canada (for Canadians, naturalized included) Justice matters. Yesterday #51

Canada seems to have learned from the mistakes of other countries. DFW 13 hrs ago #60

Thank you for this touching reply. Justice matters. 2 hrs ago #64

I've been thinking of you... r�is�n_dubh Yesterday #57

My last cardiac episode in the USA was in 2011. DFW 13 hrs ago #61

I still feel that it should be completely free, paid with higher taxes Polybius 9 hrs ago #62

Thanks for the well-wishes DFW 7 hrs ago #63