[XorNot]

"opt out" is how conservative parties kill public healthcare systems.

Because the public healthcare system winds up subsidizing the private one: private insurers dump bad risks onto it when they get too expensive too insure, after years or collecting the payments that don't go to the public system.

It's the definition of privatizing profits and socializing risk.

You want to opt out? You get to opt all the way out. You don't get to come back, it's a one way street. Still keen?

[physicsguy]

I’m Germany, that’s the way it works, once you choose to go private you cannot opt back into the public system. People sometimes do it if they don’t plan to stay in Germany though, usually if they are immigrants.

[detaro]

Depends on the age. Above 55 it's indeed quite difficult, under that you can switch back if you fall back into the required status (i.e. take a job with a salary under the limit)