Herding Llamas

I have often wondered about the private insurance (not that I can afford it). I’ve only been on AOK I can only assume that the care is much much better with private insurance?

I assume that you are german? I have experienced similar here with dermatologists but for allergies. I went to 4 different allergists over a 8 month period to simply get tested to be able to get an epipen which could potentially save my life. This in the US took one next day visit with a doctor. Later (in the US) I saw specialists that put a lot of research into my allergies and time and attention into it. I got nothing here in Germany.

As mentioned before, despite this, I would rather support the german system though. It has its problems like everywhere, but it is at least available to everyone at more affordable prices.

Sorry about your ear problems. That sounds bad and a terrible thing to live with.

The US heathcare systems have many problems as you pointed out. I also am well aware of them as I lived there for 30 years both with and without insurance. The only thing that I can give is my lived experience in both systems. The problems that you pointed out among many others exist in most health care systems globally. Despite and including these problems in my experience the US still gives better care. That may be hard to hear (no pun intended) but the grass is not always greener.

Now don’t get me wrong. I prefer the system here in Germany but not because it’s better, but because it is available to everyone. People here don’t go bankrupt with medical debt like in the US.

True - but this is also true everywhere I have been too.

It’s far from only in the US. In my experience, hospitals in Germany are far worse in this regard. It depends greatly on who is getting paid how much for what. The US is far better for this, but unfortunately it is not affordable for most.