Dutch MNetters- do you pay for health care? At all?

[Fordian]

Am watching a TV show where they're comparing health care in the Netherlands versus the NHS, among other things.

It's simplistic, and a bit irritating. I'm also in this UK programme as a blurry 'HCP' 😂

But I'm intrigued to know whether a comparison can really be drawn between the Dutch system and the NHS; as I know the German system involves private insurance, whereas the NHS doesn't.

Your thoughts?

Fordian
Not quite for Germany that is- above a certain level of income you can go private or without, below that you have to join a health insurer (gesetzliche Krankenkasse), rates vary but not by much, it is your choice who you join, the rates are shared about 50:50 by your employer:
My rates - deducted from imcome pre-tax:
16,1% health, 3,05% old age care, 18,6 % pension, 2,4% unemployment

Thanks, that's the sort of info I'm after re Europe!

In the Netherlands you pay for health insurance unless you are below the income threashold (which is set very very low). But premiums are nothing like what they are in the US, and there is protection for people with long term and incurable conditions. It's not a perfect system, but it's better than the US system by a country mile.

I'm not at all sure it's as good as the NHS could be if politicians let it and people were prepared to pay taxes. It's currently somewhat better than the NHS for some things.