General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: My experience with Universal health Care [View all]Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)In the US, they would have asked for the money up front most likely. The hospital in Germany had all my (American) insurance info on file but couldn't figure out a way to bill them, so they wound up sending me the bill instead.
You'd think my insurance company would be popping Champagne corks over the low costs but they're balking over not being able to get access to my medical file in Germany since privacy laws prevent it.
In any case, there was a rigid separation between the medical care and billing. The doctors had no knowledge of my insurance state and whether or not I could even pay the bills. Medical decisions were made for medical reasons, not financial ones.
Death panels, my arse. It's the US insurance companies that are the real death panels.
ETA: Grammar.