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DFW

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

Fri Jun 26, 2026, 10:52 AM

Yesterday

My employer is an American entity, and thus everything is paid there: salary, health insurance (such as it is), Social Security. In Germany, they look at my US taxes paid, say that’s nice, and demand money, namely full boat: 47%. Period.i was invited to apply for “Privat” insurance, and HUK Coburg quoted me €2500 a month, or €30,000 a year. And that was in 2011 at age 59! What would the quote be now, at age 74? €50,000 if I’m lucky? Since my wife was unemployed for five years, but married to someone who wasn’t, she was left with no German health insurance at all, which is why I sprang in there for her. The system here does have holes, and she had fallen into one for five years.

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