German Healthcare System
Healthcare in other countries is very different than in the Unite States. In Germany, the system of de-centralized patient paid insurance coverage provides health care to almost every citizen at a cost half that of the US. The German system requires all citizens to contribute to caring for each citizen.
The German model of healthcare has been in use for more than 125 years. The system was created with one basic principle in mind and that was community solidarity. The system is based on the concept that every German citizen should not be without health insurance. The model is based on mandatory insurance, which is supplied by a network of more than 200 nonprofit sickness funds as well as regional medical associations. Unlike health care programs in England and Canada, the German system is not centered on the federal government managing individuals healthcare (Nelson). The government 's responsibility to national healthcare is a role of statutory guidelines and assisting regional providers in resolving issues as well as proposing reforms as needed. This allows for each region of the country to find what works in that particular region and to engage in care for their local population. Germany is one of only 2 countries in the world that allows its wealthiest 10% to opt out of the mandatory sickness fund plans. This allows for people making more than approximately $72,000 US annually to purchase their own private insurance. The German model has done something unique in respect to providing care for its population by decentralizing the management of healthcare they have reduced cost and bureaucratic red tape.
According to study in 1998 spending per capita for health care in the United States was $4178 that same year the spending in Germany was $2424. The United States was spending 13.6% of its gross domestic product on care, whereas in Germany it was 10.6% of the gross domestic product. At the same time when we look at the number of physicians per 1000 patients in the
The German model of healthcare has been in use for more than 125 years. The system was created with one basic principle in mind and that was community solidarity. The system is based on the concept that every German citizen should not be without health insurance. The model is based on mandatory insurance, which is supplied by a network of more than 200 nonprofit sickness funds as well as regional medical associations. Unlike health care programs in England and Canada, the German system is not centered on the federal government managing individuals healthcare (Nelson). The government 's responsibility to national healthcare is a role of statutory guidelines and assisting regional providers in resolving issues as well as proposing reforms as needed. This allows for each region of the country to find what works in that particular region and to engage in care for their local population. Germany is one of only 2 countries in the world that allows its wealthiest 10% to opt out of the mandatory sickness fund plans. This allows for people making more than approximately $72,000 US annually to purchase their own private insurance. The German model has done something unique in respect to providing care for its population by decentralizing the management of healthcare they have reduced cost and bureaucratic red tape.
According to study in 1998 spending per capita for health care in the United States was $4178 that same year the spending in Germany was $2424. The United States was spending 13.6% of its gross domestic product on care, whereas in Germany it was 10.6% of the gross domestic product. At the same time when we look at the number of physicians per 1000 patients in the
References: Ridic, G., Gleason, S., & Ridic, O. (2012). Comparisons of Health Care Systems in the United States, Germany and Canada. Materia Socio Medica, 24(2), 112-120. doi:10.5455/msm.2012.24.112-120 NELSON, M. (2010). Achtung! After 125 Years of Success, The German Health Care System is in Code Blue. International Lawyer, 44(3), 1045-1075. Bentley, T. K., Effros, R. M., Palar, K., & Keeler, E. B. (2008). Waste in the U.S. Health Care System: A Conceptual Framework. Milbank Quarterly, 86(4), 629-659. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0009.2008.00537.x