They are very difficult to get in, although they don't require an interview. I was more interested in gaming and sports back then. Americans are divided about how to pay for medical care and insurance, an issue that will continue to be debated hotly as presidential candidates tout their plans for overhauling the nation’s health care industry. Is Germany's healthcare a model for the U.S.? I would not be surprised if the german schools were a lot better. The cost for everything related to Helene Sula’s knee surgery was about $2,000, compared with $14,000 for the same treatment in America. “As a student at a public university in Germany, I automatically qualified for the public health care system,” Reich said. As someone who was an average student in high school, but in med school now. “When I fell, I didn’t think it was that bad,” Helene Sula, 32, recalled. "Hard to get in", really? Courtney Reich, 28, pays just a few euros a month in Germany for her insulin necessary to treat type one diabetes, compared with the hundreds of dollars she used to pay living in the U.S. Helene Sula, 32, tore her ACL while skiing in Europe, and was treated by doctors in Germany. Even though she was on her family’s health insurance at the time, she said she had to pay hundreds of dollars every month for her insulin, which was necessary for her survival. The couple said Helene Sula was lucky to find a doctor who could do an MRI quickly once back in Germany; most places they called were booked for weeks — a common disadvantage for elective procedures. Despite some language barriers, the Sulas said the German health care system was easy to navigate. “I was really surprised that everything necessary to take care of my diabetes was covered, 100 percent.”. The students get a great medical education, but I remember them telling me they wished administration and the professors would "take care" of them better, much like at many American schools (probably because we pay $$$$$, haha). So maybe the depth of the material isn't the best, but you guys seem to think positively of the level of education, except #1. In the US, there's the MD title, which they don't have there. I did an internship at an orthopedic hospital in Germany with other German med students. A Dr. med is in most cases not seen as anything close to a PhD. From what I've heard from German folks, it's pretty hardcore (getting into as well as studies and board exams). The system there is very different. We have integrated delivery systems that are the envy of the world,” she said. I guess that law has been basically repealed by the individual states since then, making it free again. They credited their private health insurance not only with getting a swift diagnosis, but also insisting on having the best surgeon available to do the operation necessary to repair her injured knee. Tuition is actually 100% free over there. I've seen a couple and they were very simple projects. The ones who are able to pay more, pay more. Baberg likens the difference between statutory and private health insurance in Germany to the difference between economy and business class on a commercial airline flight. While Germany is just the size of a U.S. state, it produces half of the # of med students compared to the U.S. every year: sure, until you don't get in because you weren't in the top 5% in high school. I'd imagine it's just as difficult, medical school is hard. “And if you’re sick, if you’re chronically ill, it’s one percent. She paid about $2,000, compared to a similar previous treatment in the U.S. for which she paid about $14,000. (I believe some American schools are starting to adopt this approach as well.) “It’s just that not everyone gets that outstanding health care. I'd say German med schools are as tough as American ones. All workers contribute about 7.5 percent of their salary into a public health insurance pool. He came to the US to finish his clinical years. “We are one big community,” said Dr. Henning Baberg, a cardiologist and the medical director of Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch. Courtney Reich, 28, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2009. One of the professors at my institute attended medical school in Germany. Employers match that 7.5 percent contribution. “I don’t need to worry about crazy stuff coming up month to month. But when the Chicago native moved to Germany, Reich said she was shocked to learn both her insulin and insulin pump were totally covered — no out-of-pocket expenses. Then, you can take your Steps and come back to the US to practice, or you just stay there. You just have to submit a thesis on any research project. I have a friend who's a medical student at Charité, which is one of the best medical institutions in Germany. The system there is very different. In many federal states you will need C1-level medical German as well. You have to remember that you are not guaranteed to get a residency in the US if you wanted to come back and then you won't be able to practice as a physician here. And humanity should be a big part of medicine.”, Erika Edwards is a health and medical news writer and reporter for NBC News and "TODAY.". Some of them also told me that after 2 years, they tried to take Step 1 for fun and thought it was insanely difficult. This “all for one and one for all” approach to health care has roots in the Middle Ages, when German craftsmen paid into one fund that was used to help any of its members in case someone became ill or suffered financial hardship. Wow, really?! Unlike Reich, however, they pay for private health insurance. You could pick the rarest enzyme mutation manifesting as some anatomical quirk and the German medical student would likely be able to pinpoint it quickly. It would be a possibility to go to Germany to study there. C'mon, it's ridiculously easy to be in top 5% in high school - even though their HS is higher caliber than ours. A lot of people don't have the maturity to take high school seriously and then actually do well in college. It would be hard to objectively compare it to US system. Well, the thing is that they won't have to worry about debts. I didn't check back for a while but here's this: Ahhh, in the 6 years I've had this account, you're the first person on these forums to recognize her! For example, instead of being tested on information presented during lectures, German medical students have to search for all … For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It encompasses both statutory health insurance for people who earn less than a certain salary, as well as private health insurance for those who earn more and choose to purchase their own. Six years later — still living in Germany — Reich has embraced the idea of a safety net. What is a high deductible heath care plan. I've been her fan since Ghajini and I'm not even Indian nor Asian. Because medical professions are regulated in Germany, you will need to prove that you have at least B2-level general German. You just have to submit a thesis on any research project. Copyright © 1999-2020 CRG, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. going to a med School in USA.But if you are German or reside in Germany then it will be better to go to a German med school.The residency training may be better in http://US. Apparently, it's super easy to get a PhD as a med student. It would be hard to objectively compare it to US system. “It’s important to remember that we do have outstanding health care in the United States. Students do a lot more independent learning there than in the States. I have a German friend that went to the med school in Berlin. The Sulas chose to live in Germany for its central European location, and were taking advantage of the country’s proximity to the Austrian Alps when Helene tore her anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, while skiing. It doesn’t exist uniformly across the country,” she added. Baberg, who received medical training at the University of California, San Diego, said one advantage the U.S. health care system has is transparency. The ideology lives on in the modern German system. We have pockets of excellence. All Rights Reserved. But Osborn does not recommend the U.S. copy Germany’s or any other country’s health care system and adopt it here. And it's working. The American medical student, however, is far more well-versed in practical matters. Baberg, who received medical training at the University of California, San Diego, said one advantage the U.S. health care system has is transparency. Health care industry experts in the United States say the German system is a good example of an employer-based model of medical insurance. Same flight, same plane, same safety profile. but at least they aren't paying much for tuition compared to the US model. I'll take the latter lol. To get your Approbation, you may need to pass an exam called the Fachsprachenprüfung. They reassured her they simply viewed health care differently. Better chance of MD/PHD or MD/MBA.And better post graduate trainin in various specialties. Why does it matter? I’d rather be paying a steady fee and knowing I’m safe,” she said. And the ones who aren’t able to pay that much, don’t pay that much.”. I think the general consensus is to go to medical school in the country you want to practice. “It’s much easier to pay your bills and understand your coverage than in America, where you’re sort of left to figure it out on your own,” Michael Sula said. Whether the “fix” is found in the Affordable Care Act, private insurance, "Medicare for all" or something totally different, some Americans are pointing to health care systems in other wealthy countries as models. Apparently, it's super easy to get a PhD as a med student. ^ That is, as far as I know, no real PhD. If you live in America and you are American Citizen then you are better off. I'm not sure that you're "guaranteed" a residency anywhere. It is my understanding that German schools don't teach to the USMLE either. Anyway, no debts to worry about, and if the standard of education is comparable and good, then it's worth a thought, isn't it? My friend often complains that it's hard know into how much depth she should go while studying for a particular objective. Also, no interviews, no EC's. So they have to write a thesis to get their MD. Students do a lot more independent learning there than in the States. Guy is one of the smartest people I know.