Hospital Bill, German style

[CC27]

DFW (60,797 posts)

Hospital Bill, German style

As some of DU knows, I just had two heart procedures done at a top cardiac clinic here in Germany. I am still waiting for the bill for the first one, the one where I was in and out the same day. But I just got the bill for the second one. I had a heart ablation done (successful!!), and was kept overnight, because they wanted to keep constant observation over the puncture wound. I was expecting about $15,000 to $20,000. I got the bill for that treatment today. It was €7664, or about $8,737.

From what I understand, the same bill at a decent clinic in the USA (anyone who knows from experience please set me straight if I am way off) would have cost somewhere between two and four times as much.

Being Blue Cross, from past experience, I expect them to deny 100% of this. I will not be surprised if they do, but German health insurance available to me costs $35,000 a year, so I am still way ahead of the game. If I get zero reimbursement, I get to deduct it from my German taxes, so, in fact, it will only cost me a net of about $4500. It seems a small price to pay for a heart that should now be good for another 20 years or so. Since EVERYONE in my family gets cancer sooner or later, that will probably be more than enough.

Gas may be hugely expensive here, but staying alive is a hell of a lot cheaper.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221329501

Wait, I thought healthcare was FREE in Europe??

[Carl]

In other words..."Look at me,I`m rich!"

[67 Rover]

German health insurance available to me costs $35,000 a year,

So $2900 a month plus outrageous taxes?

Taxable Income Range (EUR)   Tax Rate                        (%)
                                                Up to 12,348                0
                                                12,349 to 66,760        14 to 42
                                                66,761 to 277,825        42
                                                Over 277,826                45

I especially like the "church tax"
Church Tax: Applicable to members of recognized churches, ranging from 8% to 9% of income tax.

Value-Added Tax (VAT): The standard rate is 19%, with a reduced rate of 7% for certain goods and services.

Property Tax: Levied by municipalities on real estate.

Solidarity Surcharge: A supplementary tax of 5.5% on income tax, primarily affecting higher earners.

[SVPete]

I cannot say how analogous my experiences have been, but I have had Anthem Blue Cross and Aetna through my employer for the past 10 years or so:

* Mild stroke, several days in the hospital, pretty much entirely paid;

* Covid, 2 weeks in the hospital, pretty much entirely paid (might have been paid by the US government, not sure);

* Pneumonia and blood-borne infection, 10 days in hospital and 10 days of in-home infusions, pretty much entirely paid.

I did a little DDGing, and heart ablation is a less intrusive treatment for AFIB and other rhythm problems than implanting a pacemaker. My pacemaker implantation and the prior heart monitor implantation were both paid by my insurance. Both were outpatient procedures.

Either DFW is flat out lying about Blue Cross or he had a VERY restrictive plan. I suspect the former.

My experiences with Bkue Cross differs almost diametrically from what DFW claims.

[SVPete]

… German health insurance available to me costs $35,000 a year …

Holy bleep! My “employee contribution” paycheck deductions plus deductibles are between a fifth and a tenth of that $35K a year!

[67 Rover]

Holy bleep! My “employee contribution” paycheck deductions plus deductibles are between a fifth and a tenth of that $35K a year!

Oh man, free sure is expensive! 

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Yeah, but we have ObamaCare! Top that, you eurotrash bastards!



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