Germany's Healthcare System: An Overview Bradley Webster American Sentinel Professor Kehm Germany's Healthcare System: An Overview Germany has long been regarded has having a very efficient and cost effective healthcare system. In this essay several aspects of this system will be evaluated from what works well to what doesn’t. Despite Germany’s highly functional healthcare system they too are going to have to face the challenges that every other developed country is facing: a growing elder population and the ever increasing costs of healthcare in conjunction with a waning economy. Alarming statistics, such as the following, will demand Germanys attention as well as the vast majority of developed counties with …show more content…
Healthcare: Cost to the Individual German German sickness funds are required to be financially self - sufficient and premiums are set as a percentage of annual income. The percentage varies from fund to fund with 13% being the average. The premiums are deducted from pay packets with employers and employees paying half each. As of 2004 the Germans enacted co pays into their healthcare system. This involves Germans having to pay 10 Euro ( per quarter, every 3 months ) to see a GP, 10 Euro per day as a co pay in hospital with a max of 28 days and 10 % for drug prescriptions not exceeding 10 Euros … but total annual co pays never exceed 1 % of a German’s yearly income("Sick Around The," n.d.). Examples of this, in relatable examples, would be an individual making 60,000 dollars per year would pay 600.00 per month for health insurance, half of that 600.00 is picked up by their employer. (this is the max any one individual pays in the social insurance program. ) An individual making 20,000 per year will pay 250.00 per month, again half of which their employer pays. This covers all non-working members of their family. If a married couple are both working they both must contribute to the social insurance program individually, or opt to purchase private health insurance. In April 1994, Germany enacted mandatory universal social insurance for long-term care,
Germany’s healthcare system is split into two types of coverage which is public and private health insurance. Health insurance companies are not able to deny people coverage due to pre-existing illnesses or to discontinue their treatment because of high costs. The public health care insurance is provided by statute to individuals who are not eligible for private insurance which is people who are salary and make under $50,000 annually. As people age and become ill, they are able to opt out of their insurance and turn to the government’s option. As the economy continues to fluctuate, the population of Germany relies more heavily on the legislative insurance which consists of 85-90% of the population.
The healthcare systems of Switzerland and the United States are quite similar in some aspects and vastly different in others. In Switzerland, the healthcare is universal and available to all. It is provided by private individual insurance companies and subsidized by the government when needed. Basic health insurance is required to be purchased within 3 months of residency or after birth and is an individual’s choice as to what carrier they choose. Of course, there are exceptions to this mandate but they are very few.("Healthcare in Switzerland," “n.d.”, para. 1) Because of this requirement, 99.5% of the population in Switzerland has
As some people were skeptical about the basis for the ranking, several studies were conducted, this time including “amenable mortality” in the criteria. France was first in the ranking. One good thing about France’s health care system is that everyone has health care. The country is also reported to rely on private and government insurance. Unlike the United States, France lets its citizens to have freedom in choosing hospitals, doctors, and care. Additionally, the health care system does not put much constrain on doctors with regards to making medical decisions. The same situation is evident on German health care system, where everyone has fully portable health insurance which comes with package of benefits. Like France, Germany lets its patients have freedom in choosing doctor and hospital during illness. A survey showed that patients and physicians in Germany are both satisfied with their health care system (Reinhardt, 1994, p.22).
There are many individuals’ that think the German health care system is one of the best in the world. Back in 1883 a man by the name of Otto von Bismarck, created Germany’s health care system; a universal health care system which is the oldest in Europe ("Otto von Bismarck," 2012). When the German health care system was created, it was mandatory for a select few mainly, low-income workers and specific government employees. Gradually the system was expanded to cover the entire German population. Under the German universal health care system 85 % of their population has
Germany has a market based health system. They have universal health care that covers medical, dental, mental health and even homeopathy. Insurance companies cannot make a profit from insured customers. Therefore, the price for insurance is negotiated between the government and the Insurance provider. Like any other healthcare system there are
Ireland and Germany have traditional put the burden of caring for the elderly on the family, but with a rapidly aging population each country has begun to recognize the need for an affordable and comprehensive elder care program. Both have taken different approaches to how to care for their elderly, however neither way comes without complications. Germany offers social services that are a right to all their citizens, however with the rising costs of retirement it will not be sustainable in its current form. Ireland has seen major growth in the elder care field over the last decade and has many comprehensive policies to help live a comfortable retirement, but they lack the funds to fully implement these programs. A different approach must be taken with the geriatric field if they want to guarantee the protection of their senior citizens.
The cost of care has been a growing problem throughout developed nations during the last 15 years. For example, across 34 nations that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the average per capita health care expenditure increased by more than 70 percent between 2000 and 2010. However, the biggest spenders — such as
Switzerland is best known for its chocolate, cheese and its Alps. However, its also known for its amazing and universal healthcare. So what makes Switzerland’s healthcare so efficient? This research paper will examine certain factors that contribute to the overall successes of the Switzerland healthcare system such as out-of-pocket expenses, health statistics, the organization of healthcare, the distribution of responsibility between the federal and local governments and the income tax structure. By analyzing these elements, the strengths can be appreciated and new ideas can be formed to fix the current flaws present in the system. No healthcare system in the world is perfect; however, it can be improved by cooperation and understanding
This paper presents a comparison of the health care systems in the United States and the Netherlands. The health care systems in the United States and the Netherlands are both a work in progress. This paper compares the many common strengths and weaknesses between these two countries health care systems using recent data and current trends. The government of the Netherlands has been working towards providing universal health coverage for their citizens since World War II. The government of the United States is divided on the necessity of providing universal health coverage for its citizens; however, it appears to be moving in this direction. The United States approximately 70 years behind the Netherlands on the health care front. Comparing the similarities and differences in the health care systems of the United States and the Netherlands gives a lot of insight into policy changes and reform that could benefit the United States. The continually improving health care system in the Netherlands may be the best model for the United States as it moves towards a Universal Health Care system.
For you, Dr. Wheatley, this would be beneficial because you could change your plan and not have to be angry for a year until the option to change was given! For many people, they don’t realize that they’ve chose the wrong plan until they go to the doctors and at that point, it’s too late.
Germany’s and the United States’ healthcare systems compare and contrast in many ways. Germany has the third richest economy in the world and many categorize their healthcare system as socialized. Germany provides medical care to all of the citizens—young, poor, old, sick, and injured. Otto von Bismarck the Prussian chancellor in the 1880s in Germany invented the concept of healthcare systems, the notion that a government has to provide mechanisms so all its people can get medical care when they need it. In 1883, the Sickness Insurance Act was passed, representing the first social insurance program. Over the past 130 years the
Comparing health care systems of the United States and Germany. Assessing the areas of health care for adults’ elderly and retired, coverage for prescriptions, referrals for testing and specialties including pre-existing conditions, and financial effects and of course the children.
To show how Bismarck is a 'mixed ' model, and how they differ from the United States, in ways of funding, such as funding through a premium financed social insurance system with a mixture of public and private providers (Joffe & Wiedmann, 1999). Overall the author’s purpose of this article is to point out the differences between the United States Health care system and other nations.
The German health care system is one of the best health system in the world. This evolved system distinguished in many perspectives. Those are the aspects of German health system that will be covered in this report: the structure and characteristics of the German health care system, comparison with the Australian health system, evaluation for the organization and administration of the health system, and policy development in Germany.
Germany has the world’s fourth largest economy and contributes one-fifth of the European Union’s (EU) gross domestic product (Xing, 2012). It is stated by Ropke (1990) that Germany’s economy is based on the “social market” which follows the Laissez-faire (free market) principles, but with a considerable degree of government regulation and ample social welfare programs. Moreover, Germany has the largest consumer market in the EU with a population of 82 million (World Bank, 2012). This makes it attractive