[romanovcode]

> If I paid the same amount in insurance in India, I'd have a helicopter flown out every time I stubbed my toe.

You are free to go private if you earn more than 60k a year and you get all the helicopters and 3-d printed tooth fillings. The only problem is that you can get back to public only if you get fired.

> Germans who foolishly believe that Germany is a great country to live

It's not Germans who foolishly believe these things, but all the immigrants who come to Germany over and over each year. If there were not so much immigration then the services for exams would be 1 week instead of 5 months.

> So long as the omas and opas get their pension, Germany will stay as it is for ever - there is no need to change in their view.

I strongly advise anyone who moves to Germany to start private pension scheme immediately because in 30 years there will be no pension in Germany, most likely.

[littlecranky67]

> I strongly advise anyone who moves to Germany to start private pension scheme immediately because in 30 years there will be no pension in Germany, most likely.

But there is not way out of the government mandated pension unless you become self-employed. So you do have to pay into the giant ponzi scheme, while also building your own private funds.

[littlecranky67]

> You are free to go private if you earn more than 60k a year

Good luck if you are married and have children, or good beware, prior health conditions. Then private will cost you waaay more than public

[romanovcode]

With prior health conditions they won't even accept you 9 times out of 10. But honestly it's not a great deal to begin with.

To clarify why it's tricky:

I was going to private long time ago and they asked me if I have some conditions. I said I have mild scoliosis and whatever and they said "No, not like that - like HIV/AIDS or Cancer" and I said No.

Some time later they said I cheated them because I did not say I have "Nasal Septum Deviation" which is whatever for me, and it is not even close to having cancer or HIV. Basically they increased my premium by ~300 EUR because of that. So be careful, make sure you say EVERYTHING that might be wrong with you beforehand to not have surprises like I had.

Of course the upside is that:

- Nobody cares if you cannot speak German

- You get appointments next day regardless of what condition you have

- You go to hospital there is special counter for you sometimes where you skip line completely

- You get best healthcare in all Europe (I think)