Esc_ape_artist t1_j6x52vx wrote
I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but what effect is this having on your finances and living conditions? As an American, such a diagnosis would be doubly awful knowing the toll on the family finances on top of knowing it’s a fatal condition.
Knowing fate is knocking at your door far too soon is awful, and I’m very sorry you and your family have to deal with this.
jawanda t1_j6x6x2x wrote
In case you don't get an answer from op, with their socialized healthcare Germans generally pay very little even for extensive treatment like this. Here's a study indicating that the main financial burden from cancer is loss of income:
>81% (n = 199) of the patients reported out-of-pocket costs, and 37% (n = 92) income loss as a consequence of their disease. While monthly out-of-pocket costs did not exceed 200€ in 77% of affected patients, 24% of those with income losses reported losing more than 1.200€ per month. High financial loss relative to income was significantly associated with patients’ reporting a worse quality of life (p < .05) and more distress (p < .05).
https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-020-07028-4
Esc_ape_artist t1_j6x8689 wrote
Thank you for the answer.
I have a relative there who has private insurance on top of state(?) insurance and tends to denigrate the national insurance or care as being inadequate. He also has cancer. I’m not sure what the benefits are as he obviously has to pay extra for it vs the relatively minor fees for the national option.
Is any German in fear of losing their home/flat due to that loss of income? I assume one gets social housing provided, so they’re not in danger of being on the street, but all the same it would be traumatic to be evicted.
(Reading my comments myself it shows the difference between here and there. We live in fear of losing everything as much if not more than we fear serious illness)
jawanda t1_j6x9ajg wrote
Interesting, and I don't know the answer, I'm just a fellow American who was researching it (because of this ama) right as I saw your question so I thought I'd post that link / tidbit.
But I concur, it's horrible how one of our first thoughts about health as Americans is "this is going to bankrupt me" . And according to the conclusion from that German study ...
>Distress and reduced quality of life due to financial problems seem to amplify the burden that already results from a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
imwer234 t1_j6xag78 wrote
You will not end up on the street in any EU/EES nation because of these kinds of illnesses. Might not live as before if the economy takes a toll on you, but there is a safety net keeping you under a roof.
Esc_ape_artist t1_j6xcsb6 wrote
That was my (uneducated) understanding. I’m wondering what “roof” one would keep or end up with.
imwer234 t1_j6xfd6w wrote
EU/ESS countries got different rules, so the standard of living will vary. I know "sick" people in both Sweden and Norway living on the government (tax payers) being able to buy their own home. Might be extremes, but you will at least have a decent appartement in either of these countries. Thinking about it perhaps Sweden and Norway aren't the best examples if we are looking for social misery. But you will still have guarantees within EU/EES, regardless of country, and you will for sure at least have a normal "commie flat".
Esc_ape_artist t1_j6z69ii wrote
Lol at “commie flat”. The little I’ve seen has been a damn sight better than section 8 housing (welfare housing) in the US. The social housing often seems to be in crummy neighborhoods no matter where you go , though.
imwer234 t1_j6zaspg wrote
Haha not sure what to call it, think I picked up "commie flat / block" from an eastern European (or even Russian) Youtuber and it stuck with me. However, I have never seen such run-down places as a true "commie flat / block" in the Nordics. I have lived in rough neighborhoods, which honestly pale in comparison to places I have seen filmed in North America. (I'll have to look up section 8 housing, might be something like that I am picturing thinking about run-down places in the USA / North America.) The flats I have lived in have always been more than decent, once there was even an impromptu forced upgrade to the apartment where I got to choose colors for wallpaper, floor etc. I was not receiving any benefits of any kind, just worked full time and had a normal life. Apparently a kind of fund had accumulated for that specific unit and had to be used. And that was a pretty basic apartment I rented via the local municipality.
But yeah, the location wasn't golden. Still decent enough and for the price I paid - couldn't have asked for more.
I am not siding with any political side here, only describing my experience from this kind of housing.
Esc_ape_artist t1_j6xcum3 wrote
It is absolutely horrible.
RelativisticTowel t1_j6x8cc3 wrote
Unless OP willingly pulled himself off statutory health insurance (which you aren't even allowed to do under a certain income level), all he's paid is 10% copay on some things, up to a certain yearly limit. Keeping in mind that the total value is a reasonable one to begin with.
Only OP can reply about financial distress (loss of income is no joke once you're a few months into sick leave and they start cutting your pay), but Americans are uniquely fucked in a way no one here can quite compare to.
Esc_ape_artist t1_j6x8q8z wrote
Thank you for the reply.
“Uniquely fucked”
A level of backhanded exceptionalism only we can admire.
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