After waiting for many years, I thought I’ve been at least on track to get treatment for the past 6 months. All out of pocket, in addition to the nearly EUR 1000 health insurance premium per month.
Lengthy psychologist sessions, official diagnosis by a licensed therapist in writing. Doctor appointment with the written diagnosis, but he said only a licensed psychiatrist can do the initial prescription. Find one, make appointment.
But then he needed up to date blood count and ECG first, appointment cancelled 2 hours before it started. The blood count was at a different doctor than my usual one, because last time, mine was on vacation. So ECG and blood count from two different locations. All during hours I actually had to be at work. But what can I do - botch one last job before I get treatment and everything will be great for the future, right?
Sent it all in upfront, and another problem: Apparently, the ECG must be evaluated for findings. Which any doctor is trained to do, but it needs to be returned to the doctor who did it, like this magic quest, because in theory, I could send an ECG that is not mine to a different doctor for the findings. (Cui bono?)
The last 4 steps, I’ve been told that this is “this one really really really last thing”, and it sounds like one of these advance fee scams that are like “just one more Apple gift card for the taxes, and we can transfer your lottery winnings”.
I bet all of these things would be easy for somebody who does NOT have ADHD. They just do them one by one, and somehow that happens at a magic hour where the doctor office is open but also their workplace is not.
The lack of understanding how ADHD works, by the very people who are supposed to diagnose and treat it, reminds me of this scene from Groundhog Day: He explains the problem of being in a 24 hour time loop to a seemingly understanding therapist, who then is like: “I understand completely, come back in 3 days for a solution!” Ah, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFdwLNiZq7M
It’s nice that US still ALLOWS to not be insured. In Germany, it’s mandatory, it’s nearly EUR 1,000 if you don’t provide proof that you can’t afford that (and they accept the proof), and if you dodge them and they catch you later, you have to backpay for the uninsured time.
So in contrast, we go a little broke always, but we don’t go more broke when we get sick.
I hear you, and I totally understand where you are coming from. And a system like that would not be the end of the world. I think about like I think about any tax-funded government service. You can’t opt-out of the fire department for instance. It’s almost the exact same thing. By all of us contributing, we defray the level of expense for everyone, and everyone benefits. I think a pay-per-fire system would be…disastrous.
I think it should work exactly like the fire department. Entirely tax funded, no hassle. A hospital is, in my eyes, more similar to a fire department or a police station than it is to a super market, and that’s how it should work.
But it only works well all-in. A strange system of compromises forged between parties with entirely opposing views over 50 years is terrible.
You’re aware that you’re talking bullshit, yes? Insurance costs is a percentage of your income and it’s most certainly not almost 1000€ for everyone. If you’re paying that much for insurance and your income isn’t sufficient you might want to budget better (it should be at least over 4000€/month after taxes and insurance). This, of course, regards employees and general insurance.
If you’re self-employed and insured privately things are different but this is only about 10% of people. So it’s most certainly not a very common issue and obviously not the general case.
Most recent example: Started freelancing in July again, got to pay nearly 1k per month. First money received is EUR 4400 end of September.
I tried the alternative route last time, and it’s no fun: Write in certified mail that I make less and need a lower rate, they’ll ignore it, say they didn’t get anything, I’m not insured any more. Go to a lawyer with the proof of certified mail, win, get the lower rate and they have to pay back medical bills, EUR 500 lawyer costs though. Have to pay back 1k per month anyway if it turns out I make enough in the last few months of the year, so it was all for nothing.
So you’re self employed which as mentioned above is not the general case. You made it sound like everyone has to pay the same amount regardless of income which simply is not true.