[marta_morena_28]

> Privatizing seems to make for too much economic specialization

That alone isn't sufficient. Germany is built on private insurance (on top of something similar to Canada's government insurance) and it works just flawlessly. Usually they pay everything, you don't need to do anything. You skip all lines at the doctor, can directly go to specialists without asking anyone, etc. And on top of that private insurance in Germany is considerably cheaper than government insurance, while providing like 10 times the benefits.

If I had to name one thing I really miss from Germany, it's private health insurance. This was just like being in heaven.

[TheCoelacanth]

Don't almost 90% of people in Germany have public insurance with only a bit over 10% having private insurance?

[marta_morena_28]

Probably, but that's still about 10 million people with private insurance, which is 1/3 of Canada's population. The point is, private insurance doesn't have to be a nightmare. That is not the only factor. Actually I think private insurance generally had the potential to be much better than public insurance. However there seem to be a number of additional factors that make US private insurance such a nightmare.

[orwin]

> Actually I think private insurance generally had the potential to be much better than public insurance

Why? Maybe private care is better than public care, i don't know, but insurance? Swisslife (one of the best/most efficient in my country) reimburse 65 to 67% of their anual income, so roughly 33% of what you're giving them goes into administration/coordination fees. Public insurance? 20% of the money they receive via taxes are used for administration/coordination.

So if i had a choice, i would pay a premium on public insurance (more taxes, or instead, asking my bosses to give the 120€/mo to the public insurance instead of paying swisslife). Better ROI.

[TheCoelacanth]

It doesn't have to be a nightmare as long as there is extremely stiff competition from public insurance?

[baybal2]

Usually people will have both, since basic government insurance, I believe, is mandatory in most of those countries.

[Arnt]

Try asking what rate you'd get if you were to move back. Tell the insurange agent you're 55, have two children and a bad knee.

The prices you remember are for twentysome-year-olds without children.

[throw0101a]

> That alone isn't sufficient. Germany is built on private insurance […]

The difference is profit motivation.

Germany does have private insurance, but there are regulations on what insurances companies can have margins on:

> As of 2020, salaried workers and employees who make less than €62,550 per year or €5,212.50[28] are automatically enrolled into one of currently around 105[29] public non-profit "sickness funds". The fund has a common rate for all members, and is paid for with joint employer-employee contributions. The employer pays half of the contribution, and the employee pays the other half.[30]

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Germany#Health_i...

Similar in Switzerland:

> Insurers are required to offer this basic insurance to everyone, regardless of age or medical condition. They are not allowed to make a profit off this basic insurance, but can on supplemental plans.[3]

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Switzerland

With US health insurance companies profit is job #1.

[red_trumpet]

> And on top of that private insurance in Germany is considerably cheaper than government insurance

Not at all. A significant portion of the government insurance is paid by the employer, so it ends up cheaper for the individuals. Also, children are included in the government insurance.

[baybal2]

And you can also say that most of Western Europe favours fairly small, and, often, specialised hospitals, and clinics.

[oarfish]

> And on top of that private insurance in Germany is considerably cheaper than government insurance

[citation needed]

[Zeratoss]

Where did you get the part about it being cheaper from? Most people can't afford private insurance