Re: the requirement that the state *provide* an education

MarieD schrieb:

> I also am hearing that Germany is slowly turning their medical system 
> into something like the US system, requiring private insurance. I am not

> sure of the details but I was told the change is very slow and people 
> aren't seeming to realize how bad it's going to be when they have to pay

> for medical treatment. Nicole, can you enlighten me on this? I heard 
> about it second-hand so I'm sure I got it wrong.

Yes, our health care system is changing. And it's horrible. But there's 
not much we can do about it. I can complain and tell my insurance 
company and my doctors, but in the end it's up to the politicians and 
the health insurance companies and they're only after the money, not 
after our health and wellbeing.
Technically we have the right to get a second opinion for treatment, but 
this year a bill was passed that doesn't allow doctors to refer us to 
the same kind of doctor twice. So, if I get referred to a gynecologist 
and he finds a lump and decides I'll have to have surgery I can't  to a 
different gynecologist for a second opinion without paying the "entrance 
fee" of 10€, or if I'm pregnant and feel my gynecologist isn't taking me

serious, I can't go to another gynecologist without paying the "entrance 
fee" of 10€.
I don't even want to talk about dental stuff. Our basic health insurance 
(which is mandatory) covers amalgam fillings, my dentist doesn't do 
amalgam fillings, only plastic, ****celain, gold,... so I have to pay 
extra. I'll probably require dental surgery this year (no clue how to 
get that done with two kids, but yeah) because the tooth I've had a root 
canal and a crown done on has sprouted a cyst which is pretty much 
growing unobstructed.. I don't have the money to pay for anything extra, 
and the doc practically told me my tooth won't survive the surgery (they 
want to cut the tip of the root including the cyst off and then we'll 
hope the tooth will survive) so it needs to be pulled and I'll need a 
bridge, covering 3 teeth, which my insurance will cover part of and I 
have no idea how much it'll cost me and who will pay for the rest 
because I can't, but I can also not run around with a missing tooth at 32!
I'll need to get a second opinion on the tooth thing, but that's 
difficult because the good dentists are all booked till god knows when.

Anyway, yes, our medical system is changing for the worse. I think most 
people figure someone'll still pay for the im****tant stuff and 
everything that's not im****tant (like treating a cold, or the flu or 
migraines or development delays in children,.....) is not im****tant 
enough anyway. Or something...

I'm totally disgusted by the changes, but as I said there's nothing we 
can do about it really.

cu
nicole