I don't know the European health system Hans, but I don't know that it is free or at no charge there. The problem is, here in the US, many students are pushed well past the point of poverty just trying to put themselves through school. With tuition being $30,000 to $40,000 for many of the nicer schools and ~$15,000-$20,000 for state/local schools, paying an additional $200 a month for health insurance is a *luxury* that many young students find themselves living without. Is this smart? No. Is it universal? Yes. I'm certain that there are many European youngsters who arrogantly defy the system thinking they'll never find themselves in the Emergency Room. The concept of a student being mandated to purchase healthcare is a novel one, but sadly an approach that would not work here in the US given that healthcare is completely privatized.
However, most universities do provide an infirmary of sorts. I recall in my school age years, I got a violent stomach virus (as did over 75% of the campus) which dehydrated me to the point of hallucination (unless my dog really WAS talking to me...) The school's nurses helped me back to health and I never recall seeing a bill or an increase in my tuition. I don't know if this is normal or not since I'm quite blissfully ignorant to matters of public/private healthcare systems. On the other hand, after I was married and on my own and out of college (no longer covered by my parents' health care plan), I was too poor to afford healthcare. In fact, my wife and I lived on her wages of $4.25 an hour and my commission only wages (about $100 a week) with a rent of $325. Health Insurance was quoted to us at $700 a month. We were living on chicken drumsticks, corn dogs and top ramen. We certainly couldn't afford $700 a month! Health care is a major concern and in my opinion a very relevant issue to this list (considering there are so many young people on this list who probably could care less about health insurance until they need it.) Another topic related to this would be dental care and dental insurance. Not everyone's system of insurance is the same and despite (or more likely "because of") how much American's pay for insurance and healthcare, it is amazing the consistent level of quality care that is available at even the farthest reaches of the country. Students should (where possible) take advantage of this but that doesn't mean they will or can. Cheers- Jeremy -----Original Message----- From: hans [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 12:58 PM To: 'The Horn List' Subject: RE: [Hornlist] Dangers of Playing Loud (Hans) So my question: Why did he lament that he had to work so many hours as he had to recover from doctor bills from his study time when he had not an insurance ???? This provoked my question. If the system works as good as we have here in Europe, no reason to oppose. Just say: o.k. we have a similar system here. Roger ! To compare our European fee in EUR with yours in USD is insane, as dollar remains dollar for you and EUR remains EUR here, but if you come to Europe it is horrible expensive for you for a factor of 60% while it is nearly half for us if we study there. Also: playing loudly with open windows with the neighbourhood quite distant in rather suburban areas cannot be compared with the situation in appartments or condos in the cities. One must not see ones own circumstances alone but also get informations about others. And this has to do with hornplaying as horn playing makes noise even by a perfect player. And I repeat, practising LOUDS passages over & over - just TO BE HEARD in the concert - is insane, unhealthy & waste of energy & destroys every feeling for music besides destroying every feeling for the fine nuances of the embouchure. This energy is better put into practising piano & pianissimo passages which come rather as forte or mezzoforte my many players. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Gross Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 3:56 PM To: 'The Horn List' Subject: RE: [Hornlist] Dangers of Playing Loud (Hans) Many universities do offer low cost Student Health insurance. The student must take the modest effort to enroll and pay what to me in the 1970s when I was in Graduate school were very reasonable fees. We also had an on campus clinic with 24 hour health care and physicians on staff during the day. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of hans Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 12:06 AM To: 'The Horn List' Subject: RE: [Hornlist] Dangers of Playing Loud (Hans) Question. Why dont students not have any health insurance in your country ? Here in Germany & Austria all students have to join a given health care system, paying a very, very just nominal fee, otherwise they will not be enrolled as a student. So the situation for (ex- or still) patients like you is very different. Does it come from the "profit comes first" philosophy of the society ? Or "being rich means being pius" ? ============================================================ _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/hans%40pizka. de _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/jeremy%40sublymerecords.com _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
