jiejie

That's the rub, then, you have to be a resident which means you're already covered under a basic national health scheme (govt = tax supported). The pittance extra fee of Euro 8 or 10 or whatever charged, in no way can represent the real cost of insuring the actual travelers--the math just flatly doesn't work. In effect, the real cost and risk is bundled into the basic national health care scheme, spread over all German residents whether they travel or not.

This system is really a very different concept, and is more akin to worldwide medical coverage that expats often get when overseas on assignment (though the expat medical doesn't include trip cancellation, baggage, etc stuff). At least in the sense that one policy fee pays for anything, anywhere in the world including evac/repatr. But expat insurance is paid for by the company and/or the expat, not the taxpayers of the expat's country (usually).

So Chinatrvl, if you truly think you are really "buying travel insurance" for only Euro 10, think again. The true cost is already in your basic medical coverage for Germany, paid for presumably by your taxes. I'm not knocking the system, it sounds great for travelers from countries that set up their insurance systems this way. But not applicable to other travelers that come from places that have unbundled systems. Apples to oranges.