Even though we have been living and or visiting off and on in Hungary since 1978, we still do not know the exact "rules" about tipping medical staff.
We used to pay 100% out of pocket for any services given by doctors and dentists.
In the past 4 years we have been enrolled in the national health ( or whatever it is called here in HU) and pay out of pocket monthly to be a member.
We have asked neighbors exactly what is expected from doctors, how much to tip under the table but even our 83 year old neighbor doesn't know what is the correct amount for any given service.
I know the gov. is trying to get doctors to move away from this practice but in our experience, if you don't give a little something to them, they brush you off and don't follow up on treatments.
i have told my husband I have gotten sick of tipping doctors because we pay for health care monthly and sometimes don't even go in for a year or more for a thing.
We have not even gotten our yearly check up's in 2 years time.
Our 83 year old neighbor tipped for her adult son's life saving surgeries, nearly $1,000 in tips alone and not .
finished yet.
My husband tipped his surgeon $300. for a one hour hernia operation a few years back, I tipped a few hundred for a one hour knee scope.My husband was funny, totally naked in prep for surgery, just going under from pre surgery med's and trying to find a place to keep his $300. he wanted to tip in the operating room so he was sure they would wake him up in hopes of getting more.
$50, here , $25. buck there and sometimes just $10. for a quick one.
At the moment I am going to the dental school for a tooth fracture. I would of been going to a private dentist( don't like the National Health dentist for our area) but she does not have the special equipment for this deep and time consuming treatment.
Had oral surgery 4 root canal treatments so far on the one tooth and only half way finished with saving it.
I have not tipped the students as of yet for their services. They are smart, and caring but I am afraid to get them comfy with the practice of excepting tips. i am feeling a bit bad about not tipping though, they seem to be better at their jobs then the old doctors we have seen in the past.
Not too late to hand them a few bucks for their time however I will be paying for all services at the dental school in the future, it is not a free service covered with the National heath. I will pay for some services later and all materials used, no idea yet how much that will be setting us back.
Perhaps it is better to but off tipping until we know the damages.
Just wondering if anyone else finds tipping medical staff to be a confusing and strange business.