As you may know, even linking to BME in Germany is illegal, and the German government has already successfully taken legal action againt Google there to have BME removed from the German version of their search engine. I recently received this letter from a friend in Germany:
Bad news for Bodymod Freaks here in Germany. The government decided to redesign our health system. As a part of these changes so called “risk groups” like extreme sports fans or bodymod addicts have to pay any medical treatment they need by themselves, given the trouble is caused by these activities. No [standard] health insurance will cover any kind of problem you could have after a body piercing or a tattoo, not to speak about heavier mods.
So if you should be so unlucky to need very expensive treatment, a surgery maybe, because something went wrong when you got something pierced, you will have to pay thousands of euros (1 Euro is about 1.20 US Dollars) by yourself. If you can’t pay it you’ve got a serious problem. Because no Doctor will help you then.
And they talk about human rights. Yeah. But only rich people are humans to them. Be grateful you don’t live in a country which is ruled exclusively by money bags.
I asked for a little follow up information, but this is a brand new change so there is not much yet:
There is a way to get a health insurance which covers these special risks — but you have to pay 25 Euro (30 US$) extra per month, in addition to your regular health insurance. No matter how much you earn, these 25 will always remain the same. The extra insurance is volontary, but if you don’t have it, it is like I said: No doctor will help you if you get an infection from a piercing or something like that.It would have been a lot better if they offered an insurance you can buy when getting pierced, so a piercing will become more expensive, but you are safe if something goes wrong. Maybe some private insurance company will have this idea some time later, but this will surely take some time.And do-it-yourself piercers, self-modders or people who got an illegal modification done at an underground parlor would be unprotected in this case either.
So currently it looks as if you’ll have to join this extra insurance-fund, paying 25.- extra per moth, if should ever want to get a piercing or try yourself at a BMX offroad bike. All so-called “self-accountable risks” are to be covered in this expensive extra-insurance. If you refuse joining it, you should not risk to do anything dangerous. And a nostril or belly button piercing, as every second girl has it, would be considered dangerous in this context. I don’t know about how they include the standard ear lobe piercings there. 98% of the female population have pierced ears, including many women over 70 years. But as I know German bureaucrats they will make no difference there. Politics and reality are very different things.
So most people, but espeacially the younger ones, will have to pay this extra fee. Everything else would be too risky…
What do you think? Should body modification fans have to pay extra to have healthcare? And if anyone knows more about these changes, please do post them in the comment forum.
Comments
152 responses to “Germany ups the fight on Body Mod”
Seems like it’s not so much anti-mod legislation, but tailoring your pricing structure to meet the perceived risks instead.
I suppose if you first accept that people who smoke should pay more health insurance (and I don’t accept this – but when you live in a country where health provision is a for-profit industry what do you expect?), then that particular thin-end leads to people who ride motorbikes, to people who play contact sports, to people who get piercings.
I don’t know much about Germany’s healthcare system – or indeed whether this individual is talking about private or universal healthcare. All I can say (and not for the first time) is “thank Christ for the NHS”.
Seems like it’s not so much anti-mod legislation, but tailoring your pricing structure to meet the perceived risks instead.
I suppose if you first accept that people who smoke should pay more health insurance (and I don’t accept this – but when you live in a country where health provision is a for-profit industry what do you expect?), then that particular thin-end leads to people who ride motorbikes, to people who play contact sports, to people who get piercings.
I don’t know much about Germany’s healthcare system – or indeed whether this individual is talking about private or universal healthcare. All I can say (and not for the first time) is “thank Christ for the NHS”.
Seems like it’s not so much anti-mod legislation, but tailoring your pricing structure to meet the perceived risks instead.
I suppose if you first accept that people who smoke should pay more health insurance (and I don’t accept this – but when you live in a country where health provision is a for-profit industry what do you expect?), then that particular thin-end leads to people who ride motorbikes, to people who play contact sports, to people who get piercings.
I don’t know much about Germany’s healthcare system – or indeed whether this individual is talking about private or universal healthcare. All I can say (and not for the first time) is “thank Christ for the NHS”.
Seems like it’s not so much anti-mod legislation, but tailoring your pricing structure to meet the perceived risks instead.
I suppose if you first accept that people who smoke should pay more health insurance (and I don’t accept this – but when you live in a country where health provision is a for-profit industry what do you expect?), then that particular thin-end leads to people who ride motorbikes, to people who play contact sports, to people who get piercings.
I don’t know much about Germany’s healthcare system – or indeed whether this individual is talking about private or universal healthcare. All I can say (and not for the first time) is “thank Christ for the NHS”.
For all those who don’t think body modification fans should have to pay extra for healthcare related to their activities, here’s something to chew on:
Should heavy smokers have to pay extra to have healthcare once they start showing signs of smoking-related illness?
For all those who don’t think body modification fans should have to pay extra for healthcare related to their activities, here’s something to chew on:
Should heavy smokers have to pay extra to have healthcare once they start showing signs of smoking-related illness?
For all those who don’t think body modification fans should have to pay extra for healthcare related to their activities, here’s something to chew on:
Should heavy smokers have to pay extra to have healthcare once they start showing signs of smoking-related illness?
For all those who don’t think body modification fans should have to pay extra for healthcare related to their activities, here’s something to chew on:
Should heavy smokers have to pay extra to have healthcare once they start showing signs of smoking-related illness?
I thought they were talking about something similar here in The Neterlands. But I’m not sure, could also be only about our lovely German neighbours..
I thought they were talking about something similar here in The Neterlands. But I’m not sure, could also be only about our lovely German neighbours..
I thought they were talking about something similar here in The Neterlands. But I’m not sure, could also be only about our lovely German neighbours..
I thought they were talking about something similar here in The Neterlands. But I’m not sure, could also be only about our lovely German neighbours..
It’ll be stopped as soon as anyone takes it to the European Court, or even a German court if they’ve enshrined the european bill of rights into law…
Its blatantly anti human rights, not just excluding subincisions and such, which i think it might be fair to get your own insurance for, but lobe piercings and ‘extreme sports’?
Hmmm.
It’ll be stopped as soon as anyone takes it to the European Court, or even a German court if they’ve enshrined the european bill of rights into law…
Its blatantly anti human rights, not just excluding subincisions and such, which i think it might be fair to get your own insurance for, but lobe piercings and ‘extreme sports’?
Hmmm.
It’ll be stopped as soon as anyone takes it to the European Court, or even a German court if they’ve enshrined the european bill of rights into law…
Its blatantly anti human rights, not just excluding subincisions and such, which i think it might be fair to get your own insurance for, but lobe piercings and ‘extreme sports’?
Hmmm.
It’ll be stopped as soon as anyone takes it to the European Court, or even a German court if they’ve enshrined the european bill of rights into law…
Its blatantly anti human rights, not just excluding subincisions and such, which i think it might be fair to get your own insurance for, but lobe piercings and ‘extreme sports’?
Hmmm.
You could live in the US where you have no health care coverage at all, unless your rich. Europe still seems like a nicer place to live to me. (If anyone can help me get a job in the Netherlands, please let me know!)
You could live in the US where you have no health care coverage at all, unless your rich. Europe still seems like a nicer place to live to me. (If anyone can help me get a job in the Netherlands, please let me know!)
You could live in the US where you have no health care coverage at all, unless your rich. Europe still seems like a nicer place to live to me. (If anyone can help me get a job in the Netherlands, please let me know!)
You could live in the US where you have no health care coverage at all, unless your rich. Europe still seems like a nicer place to live to me. (If anyone can help me get a job in the Netherlands, please let me know!)
I wouldn’t have issues if smokers, people who eat fast food, people who drive, do home construction projects or do any “every day” activities that put them at higher risk.
I wouldn’t have issues if smokers, people who eat fast food, people who drive, do home construction projects or do any “every day” activities that put them at higher risk.
I wouldn’t have issues if smokers, people who eat fast food, people who drive, do home construction projects or do any “every day” activities that put them at higher risk.
I wouldn’t have issues if smokers, people who eat fast food, people who drive, do home construction projects or do any “every day” activities that put them at higher risk.
^ had to pay more…. forgot to add that part.
^ had to pay more…. forgot to add that part.
^ had to pay more…. forgot to add that part.
^ had to pay more…. forgot to add that part.
I really don’t see the benefit of doing that at all, other than making a little extra on the people willing to shell out the extra money for the full coverage.
If they’re going for people who put themselves at risk, then also add in people that work in labs using radation or flammable chemicals, hell even lab rodents/animals. That’s risky behavior too, and I think a little riskier than getting a body modification.
It seems to me they’re trying to make things harder for a subset of the population who participate in activities that stray from the “norm” and that are therefore “bad” in the hopes of curtailing the behavior and making a point. Health care isn’t a privilege, its a right.
I really don’t see the benefit of doing that at all, other than making a little extra on the people willing to shell out the extra money for the full coverage.
If they’re going for people who put themselves at risk, then also add in people that work in labs using radation or flammable chemicals, hell even lab rodents/animals. That’s risky behavior too, and I think a little riskier than getting a body modification.
It seems to me they’re trying to make things harder for a subset of the population who participate in activities that stray from the “norm” and that are therefore “bad” in the hopes of curtailing the behavior and making a point. Health care isn’t a privilege, its a right.
I really don’t see the benefit of doing that at all, other than making a little extra on the people willing to shell out the extra money for the full coverage.
If they’re going for people who put themselves at risk, then also add in people that work in labs using radation or flammable chemicals, hell even lab rodents/animals. That’s risky behavior too, and I think a little riskier than getting a body modification.
It seems to me they’re trying to make things harder for a subset of the population who participate in activities that stray from the “norm” and that are therefore “bad” in the hopes of curtailing the behavior and making a point. Health care isn’t a privilege, its a right.
I really don’t see the benefit of doing that at all, other than making a little extra on the people willing to shell out the extra money for the full coverage.
If they’re going for people who put themselves at risk, then also add in people that work in labs using radation or flammable chemicals, hell even lab rodents/animals. That’s risky behavior too, and I think a little riskier than getting a body modification.
It seems to me they’re trying to make things harder for a subset of the population who participate in activities that stray from the “norm” and that are therefore “bad” in the hopes of curtailing the behavior and making a point. Health care isn’t a privilege, its a right.
BMEJapan is still on google.de though, AND there’s a link from BMEJapan to BME. I guess they overlooked that one.
BMEJapan is still on google.de though, AND there’s a link from BMEJapan to BME. I guess they overlooked that one.
BMEJapan is still on google.de though, AND there’s a link from BMEJapan to BME. I guess they overlooked that one.
BMEJapan is still on google.de though, AND there’s a link from BMEJapan to BME. I guess they overlooked that one.
I think its probably an example of what happens when health care is socialized. While you are able to provide a base level of health care for a broader majority, when that centralized health care source has to make difficult decisions regarding risk management, there isn’t the opportunity for the market to provide an alternative which might correct injustices (such as this). I’d rather see regulated privatized health care in which the modified person can shop for providers than being at the mercy of a monolithic government beurocracy.
(to be fair, I really don’t know anything about germany’s health care system, so I grant that I could me misrepresenting their systems. )
Furthermore, I think its probably indicative of the problem with a “rights” based ethical discourse that we develop a sense of entitlement about things like health care, and how the seemingly more “rights” are about as real as santa claus; a useful lie we tell ourselves to keep folks nice, instead of naughty. Human beings have dignity (a product of relationality), but where these “rights” (a product of individuation) come from is a mystery to me.
Not that either of these are probably popular points of view. *ducks incoming slagging*
I think its probably an example of what happens when health care is socialized. While you are able to provide a base level of health care for a broader majority, when that centralized health care source has to make difficult decisions regarding risk management, there isn’t the opportunity for the market to provide an alternative which might correct injustices (such as this). I’d rather see regulated privatized health care in which the modified person can shop for providers than being at the mercy of a monolithic government beurocracy.
(to be fair, I really don’t know anything about germany’s health care system, so I grant that I could me misrepresenting their systems. )
Furthermore, I think its probably indicative of the problem with a “rights” based ethical discourse that we develop a sense of entitlement about things like health care, and how the seemingly more “rights” are about as real as santa claus; a useful lie we tell ourselves to keep folks nice, instead of naughty. Human beings have dignity (a product of relationality), but where these “rights” (a product of individuation) come from is a mystery to me.
Not that either of these are probably popular points of view. *ducks incoming slagging*
I think its probably an example of what happens when health care is socialized. While you are able to provide a base level of health care for a broader majority, when that centralized health care source has to make difficult decisions regarding risk management, there isn’t the opportunity for the market to provide an alternative which might correct injustices (such as this). I’d rather see regulated privatized health care in which the modified person can shop for providers than being at the mercy of a monolithic government beurocracy.
(to be fair, I really don’t know anything about germany’s health care system, so I grant that I could me misrepresenting their systems. )
Furthermore, I think its probably indicative of the problem with a “rights” based ethical discourse that we develop a sense of entitlement about things like health care, and how the seemingly more “rights” are about as real as santa claus; a useful lie we tell ourselves to keep folks nice, instead of naughty. Human beings have dignity (a product of relationality), but where these “rights” (a product of individuation) come from is a mystery to me.
Not that either of these are probably popular points of view. *ducks incoming slagging*
I think its probably an example of what happens when health care is socialized. While you are able to provide a base level of health care for a broader majority, when that centralized health care source has to make difficult decisions regarding risk management, there isn’t the opportunity for the market to provide an alternative which might correct injustices (such as this). I’d rather see regulated privatized health care in which the modified person can shop for providers than being at the mercy of a monolithic government beurocracy.
(to be fair, I really don’t know anything about germany’s health care system, so I grant that I could me misrepresenting their systems. )
Furthermore, I think its probably indicative of the problem with a “rights” based ethical discourse that we develop a sense of entitlement about things like health care, and how the seemingly more “rights” are about as real as santa claus; a useful lie we tell ourselves to keep folks nice, instead of naughty. Human beings have dignity (a product of relationality), but where these “rights” (a product of individuation) come from is a mystery to me.
Not that either of these are probably popular points of view. *ducks incoming slagging*
I dunno though, if I could pay a small monthly fee over the normal and know that I would never have to be afraid of going to a doctor for any sort of mod gone bad… it seems like something many would think about.
I dunno though, if I could pay a small monthly fee over the normal and know that I would never have to be afraid of going to a doctor for any sort of mod gone bad… it seems like something many would think about.
I dunno though, if I could pay a small monthly fee over the normal and know that I would never have to be afraid of going to a doctor for any sort of mod gone bad… it seems like something many would think about.
I dunno though, if I could pay a small monthly fee over the normal and know that I would never have to be afraid of going to a doctor for any sort of mod gone bad… it seems like something many would think about.
Thats not the point, they shouldnt have to pay the money regardless of whether they will with this new law.
Im just waiting for “fat tax”, and illegalities of smoking. If anything you should have to pay more insurance for smoking and drinking..
Thats not the point, they shouldnt have to pay the money regardless of whether they will with this new law.
Im just waiting for “fat tax”, and illegalities of smoking. If anything you should have to pay more insurance for smoking and drinking..
Thats not the point, they shouldnt have to pay the money regardless of whether they will with this new law.
Im just waiting for “fat tax”, and illegalities of smoking. If anything you should have to pay more insurance for smoking and drinking..
Thats not the point, they shouldnt have to pay the money regardless of whether they will with this new law.
Im just waiting for “fat tax”, and illegalities of smoking. If anything you should have to pay more insurance for smoking and drinking..
Just a side note that isnt related, when typing that comment i put wether instead of whether first, only to find out later that a “wether” is a castrated ram.
Just a side note that isnt related, when typing that comment i put wether instead of whether first, only to find out later that a “wether” is a castrated ram.