Nationalized Healthcare and Making Hay While the Sun Shines

Maddie and I had to go register with the National Health System yesterday (Skip took care of his registration a while back). Germany's system is a little different and because we had private pay insurance, we kind of skirted the socialized medicine issue. Both Maddie's and mine and Skip's physicians only accepted private pay patients, so our healthcare was handled basically like it was in the US, although the experience was quite a different one. Faithful readers of this blog will remember my vitamin infusion IV.

Here, apparently, it doesn't matter what kind of insurance you have, you have to get registered with the system before you can make an appointment. If we did not get registered and one of us got sick, we would have to go to an emergency clinic. Even though it was kind of a pain, it made sense. The nurse spent about 10 minutes on each of taking our health history--allergies, illnesses, family health problems--and height and weight. So that the first time we go to the doc, all that info will be in our files. And that will be important. There's a sign posted in the waiting room that says,

"All doctor's appointments are 10 minutes. If you have more than one problem or feel you have a problem that requires more time, please ask of a double appointment when you call."

Also, because the law requires that there are so many appointments available for pre-book and so many available for same-day service, you can only make appointments day of, 48 hours in advance or a week in advance. You cannot call on Monday for an appointment on Thursday. You would need to wait until Tuesday to make a Thursday appointment. Or you could call on Monday for an appointment on the following Monday. I also noticed that there's a "freezing clinic" once a month. If you have a wart, you got a once a month shot at getting it removed. This is never going to fly in the US.

I imagine for the short time we will be here this system will work well for us. If Maddie has an ear ache or I have a sore throat or Skip needs a prescription refilled, I bet we can get in and out and get what we need without a lot of waiting or fuss. But if we were going to be here long-term, it would make me really nervous. In the states, I often have to wait quite a bit to see my primary healthcare doctor, but that's because she actually takes the time to listen to her patients and ask questions and is familiar with their health history. If something is off on my annual physical, I'm guessing she's a lot more likely to notice that the doc who sees me for five minutes at a time. Also, here, the government has a say in what kind of treatment you can have. There is always something in the news about a cancer patient hoping to live long enough for a council to hear an appeal about a treatment they are hoping will save their lives. I know that people in the States battle insurance companies for the same issues, but it seems that the lines are drawn a bit tighter here. We're used to pulling out all the stops and doing everything possible even against all odds, but the healthcare system here doesn't seem to be inclined to play the odds. Which is odd (not to be confused with odds), since this country seems obsessed with gambling. You can buy a lottery ticket or bet on a sports game at any store front. You can even bet through you television while you're watching a game. But the healthcare system doesn't seem to be into it.

Am pausing to make this blog entry because I was all ready to walk out the door to deliver some shirts to the dry cleaner and run a few errands when the rain started. The sky was perfectly clear when I went upstairs to get some shoes and brush my teeth, and by the time I made it back down, it was pouring. Am going to give it another half-hour before I fell I must venture out in the rain. Duesseldorf is excellent training for London. While other American ex-pats are having to adjust to the weather, Skip and Maddie and I are used to slogging through the wet. Maddie calls it the "Duesseldorf Spirit."