[patrickk]

In Germany, private health insurance is the norm above a certain salary level (it's not actually mandatory but when you read about it online, makes it seem so). There is a hybrid private-public insurance option below that level.

It's common for employers to subsidise the private insurance at least.

And no, it's not messed up like in the US, although it's a large expense by European standards/cheap by US standards (the insurance companies raise the rates every year, and are protected by legislation in doing so, a bit like a utility company).

[tfourb]

Small correction: because contributions to the public health insurance fund are capped at a certain salary level (just shy of 60.000€/year), it would actually be pretty stupid to opt out of the public model just because you earn a lot. Private insurance can be attractive for people in Germany because i.e.

- their are no eligible for public insurance (only impacts a very small number of people, who are in many cases "independently wealthy", i.e. are not actually working)

- have very specific employment structures (most public school teachers benefit from having a private insurance due to certain government benefits paid to them)

- require or want certain benefits not offered by public insurance

- think that because of their special circumstance, private insurance will work out cheaper for them long-term (usually when you have the financial capacity to enter the private system at a very young and healthy age)