Private health insurance opportunities and threats
Private health insurance: opportunities and threats
An Essay
Presented to the
University of Zagreb
Date, place:
11.03.2014, Zagreb
Contents
1. Introduction and overview ……………………………………………………………. 3
1.1. Why Germany as an example? ……………………………………………… 4
2. Public health insurance ………………………………………………………………... 5
3. Private health insurance ……………………………………………………………….. 7
4. Difference between public and private health insurances …………………………...... 9
5. Estimation of the difference between public and private health insurances ………….. 10
6. Opportunities of the private health insurances ………………………………………... 10
7. Threats of the private health insurants …………………………………………………11
7.1. Two-tier health care …………………………………………………………. 12
8. Conclusions …………………………………………………………………………… 12
9. References and internet sites ………………………………………………………….. 13
2
1. Introduction and overview
A health insurance as a part of the social insurance system is a type of insurance coverage, which pays for medical and surgical expenses that are incurred by the insured. The health insurance can either reimburse the insured for expenses incurred from illness or injury or pay the care provider directly.
According to the U.S. Department of commerce, the health insurance can be classified into either Private and non-government coverage or government-sponsored coverage.1
“While private health insurance represents, on average, only a small share of total health funding across the OECD area, it plays a significant role in health financing in some OECD countries and it covers at least 30% of the population in a third of the OECD members. It also plays a variety of roles, ranging from primary coverage for particular population groups to a supporting role for public systems.”2
In 2004 the private health insurance coverage of Australia, Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium has been between 30% and 60%. In Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Finland and the United Kingdom the
An Essay
Presented to the
University of Zagreb
Date, place:
11.03.2014, Zagreb
Contents
1. Introduction and overview ……………………………………………………………. 3
1.1. Why Germany as an example? ……………………………………………… 4
2. Public health insurance ………………………………………………………………... 5
3. Private health insurance ……………………………………………………………….. 7
4. Difference between public and private health insurances …………………………...... 9
5. Estimation of the difference between public and private health insurances ………….. 10
6. Opportunities of the private health insurances ………………………………………... 10
7. Threats of the private health insurants …………………………………………………11
7.1. Two-tier health care …………………………………………………………. 12
8. Conclusions …………………………………………………………………………… 12
9. References and internet sites ………………………………………………………….. 13
2
1. Introduction and overview
A health insurance as a part of the social insurance system is a type of insurance coverage, which pays for medical and surgical expenses that are incurred by the insured. The health insurance can either reimburse the insured for expenses incurred from illness or injury or pay the care provider directly.
According to the U.S. Department of commerce, the health insurance can be classified into either Private and non-government coverage or government-sponsored coverage.1
“While private health insurance represents, on average, only a small share of total health funding across the OECD area, it plays a significant role in health financing in some OECD countries and it covers at least 30% of the population in a third of the OECD members. It also plays a variety of roles, ranging from primary coverage for particular population groups to a supporting role for public systems.”2
In 2004 the private health insurance coverage of Australia, Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium has been between 30% and 60%. In Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Finland and the United Kingdom the