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Slow Deutsch # 050: Health System
April 17th, 2009 by admin

Marcelo, Ekaette and some others have asked me to talk about the German health system. That's not easy, because it is a very complex subject. I'll try to explain to you the basics.

In Germany, most people are insured. There are two types of health insurance: state and private health insurance. In the statutory health insurance you pay each month a specific post. This depends on how much you earn. Who deserves much, must also pay more for his health insurance. Those who earn less pay less. Most German citizens are insured by an insurance company. So do I. Only about 10 percent of Germans are privately insured. Here one also pays regular contributions, but these are dependent on other factors, for instance, how old you are and whether you're a woman or a man

In Germany there is a compulsory insurance. This means that almost everyone must be insured. Just as officials, soldiers or self-do not have insurance. All other already.

For me it looks like this: I have a little plastic card that looks like a credit card. On it my personal data are stored, so where I live and with whom I am insured. When I go to the doctor, I give this card from there. They will be read and reviewed the information. This tells the doctor, whom he put his achievements into account; So who paid for his work.

In addition, I have to pay ten euros. This is a so-called consultation fee. It was introduced several years ago. I can even sit in the waiting room and wait for the doctor has time for me. How much my treatment will cost and who pays them, I do not know as a patient. It will run from anything between doctor and insurance.

But the insurance does not pay anything. For example, if I want to let my teeth professionally cleaned, I have to pay for it themselves. In my contact lenses covered by health insurance at least a small part of the cost - the rest I have to pay. If I want to make certain the gynecologist check-ups, such as ultrasound for cancer screening, I have to pay the well itself. The concept of precaution I should perhaps explain: In the pension there is a matter that goes to the doctor, although it still is not sick or do not feel sick. We are therefore trying to prevent that you get sick. Or are you trying to detect certain diseases as early as possible so that they can then fight easier. When you care so early care for his body.

Even if you do not get paid anything, the system is compared with many other countries very well. Anyone who is sick or had an accident, is given medical care, thanks to his health insurance. This is also in pregnant women so that will be regularly examined before birth.

In Germany, there are always discussions about the health system. Since doctors earn more than private patients to legally insured patients, it is often more difficult than to get legally insured patient an appointment. For expensive tests you have to wait longer then. But this is not always the case - some doctors make no difference.

After the examination, the doctor usually you get a recipe. It's takes a little piece of paper, has noted on the physician what medications you. So you go to a pharmacy and will gain the prescribed pills.

Music is way too good medicine, so there is the group for you today "maximum care" with their song "It will pass."

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12 Responses
  • Leonid wrote:
    April 17th, 200923:36 at

    Thanks for your help! This is a very interresting story. I only found this site today, I hope I unf here can recognize more and get to know better the German language.

  • Dirk writes:
    April 20th, 200912:39 at

    Annik love,

    Thank you for your podcasts. They are a great help to me in German in Prague.

    Usually I can not use broadcasts of broadcasters, as spoken in them too fast. What I, as native speakers often do not notice at first listen. It seems to fit the theme and I am very optimistic about the abilities of the students. But in a trial with German learners falls through the post, because hardly a sentence is understood completely. Quite different from you: My students look forward to receive your voice, your pronunciation and also you mentioned topics they are interested. I can be sure that there are no frustrating moments. On the contrary, your contributions are a good opportunity for discussions.

    Thank you and best regards
    Dirk

  • Victor writes:
    April 21st, 200919:00 at

    Hi Annik

    I'm from Mexico, I am learning German since 2006, I think your really great podcast.

    I did a podcast about the famous German car industry.

    A lot of cheering

    Victor

  • Qing writes:
    April 24th, 200910:45 at

    Annik love,

    Thank you for your slowgerman.Ich am in Munich since Dec. 2008. Your website has helped me quite well. Now I'm done with B1 exam. I would like to help you and while I can improve my German. What can I do for you?

    many greetings

  • tutuboyz writes:
    May 5th, 200919:44 at

    I wish that the American health care system would be as good as the German health care system.

  • nicole wrote:
    May 6th, 200915:35 at

    eeee true paradise of old

  • Suzanne KM Greenwalt writes:
    May 14th, 200919:04 at

    We here in St. Louis, Missouri USA find your articles and posts just fantastic! We thank you very much and look forward even more to the next message.

    German 4 / 5 class

  • Marcelo wrote:
    May 29th, 200902:26 at

    Thank Annik. That was really good serh.

  • Slow Deutsch Podcast 055 - "Television" writes:
    August 12th, 200912:19 at

    [...] Slow Deutsch Podcast 050 - Health System [...]

  • Albert writes:
    November 5th, 200923:27 at

    Well, we should rather be happy in Germany.

  • Paul Wunderlich writes:
    January 17th, 201018:40 at

    The health care system in Guatemala is poor. There are also insurance policies for one man who will pay the government. But almost all people are not going to work because the insurance ünterstutz, just the people that in a company. When working in a company, they may require this insurance, a so-called IGSS (Guatemalteco Instituto de Seguridad Social). That sounds ok, but it is not because many people are working alone, because they want to work for their own country. A country to have heard cool. Yes, it does. But think, majority of water are indigenous people, which runs for a natural life. Therefore they can not be in a health system. When they are verlezt, neither can they go in IGSS, even in a private hospital because they have no money to pay the bill, because it is expensive. So, for there is another choice: stätdisches hospital. Here all services are free, and everyone can go: both pregnant than women, as the hurt children. But there are so many people without insurance, that the hospitals are full. That he has come late, and found no place for it, wait for, mostly, a lot of time, even if he is injured. Sometimes you can wait a whole day, sometimes more. Sometimes there are so few doctors and little devices that doctors have to decide either that she is sick to die, or treat the others in order to free a space, and another man. It can be sad.

  • sara wrote:
    February 21st, 201110:13 at

    Hi Annik.
    Thank you. I can not listen Deusche only language but also learn a lot from deusch life (health system, Schulsysstem).


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