I've been spending my mornings (official institutions in Germany tend to close at noon) going from one institution to another, trying to get healthcare. Everyone knows that in every industrialized nation other than the USA people have healthcare. Especially in Germany which boasts a wonderful social system which not only provides even the lowliest refugee from Kasachstan with healthcare, but that currently also supports about 40% (estimated) of the population that are without work. So far so good. But I somehow managed to have *no status*. And since I have no status, nobody is responsible for me. First I called the insurance company. They refused me, because I can only be insured through my company. I offered to pay myself. I can't, they don't take unemployed people. I should try the unemployment agency. The unemployment agency can't help me because I've never worked (=payed taxes) in Germany. I should try social services. Social services can't help me, because I am not eligible for welfare this month. Fine, says I. I don't need your money, I just need to get health insurance.
They can't give me health care unless I've been receiving welfare for 4 weeks. Great. They send me to the healthcare authority. She suggests I get insurance myself and can't help me. I go back to the insurance people. When talking to the insurance people, I realize I am stuck in a vicious circle....
Exploring other options has not yielded results. Becoming a registered business won't help me. Private insurance companies will not have me. I have two options: find a job quickly or get married.
Anyway, having no healthcare makes me feel very special. And quite --- American.