At dinner tonight (I Live in Germany) with five families the talk of the US health care was quite [View all]

[flygal]

lively - mainly because they do not understand how there are people protesting against anything that could possibly help them. I have no idea how these people tonight vote, but in America you'd know within two minutes which side everyone was on. But NO ONE here - even the righty rights, would give up this health care for the US's.

We've been on the German public insurance for about a year and we pay only a little less than we had in the US - but we paid $1500 last year for office visits and medicine (I have Rheumatoid Arthritis).

We have to date paid our 10 Euro quarterly dues three times here. Dr. visits here are usually same day if needed, we have even had TWO house calls this year at no extra cost, and yes my Rheum. dr. apt was 2 months wait being a new patient but follow-up apts were scheduled easily.

Granted we were shocked at how much extra we pay in taxes here (about 40% here compared to 25% in US), but the sports clubs (gymnastics, tennis, swimming) cost 50 Euro a year per person (compared to $300/month for two kids in US) and are quite good, and we feel like we have a much higher standard of living with 6 weeks vacation and security that we will not lose our livelihood due to illness or unemployment.

We hope to stay here a few more years, but hopefully we can rest assure my RA will be covered.