Abstract: Abstract Germany has created and maintained the world's oldest universal health insurance system based on solidarity and pay‐as‐you‐go principles. Since 1883, mandatory health insurance has been steadily extended to new population groups. Benefits have increased and become more comprehensive. Since 1970, nearly 90 percent of the total population have been members of a statutory sickness fund; the remainder are privately insured. In 1995, Germany was the first country in the world to implement statutory long‐term care insurance. Today, despite cost containment policies, the total expenditure on health care, mainly financed through the contributions of employers and employees, is 11.6 percent of GDP. The hospital sector, a high number of physicians per capita, and high utilization rates are the main cost drivers. Nevertheless, the German health care system appears quite robust. Empirical findings reveal that medical progress and demographic aging will not necessarily increase health care expenditures.
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-02-21
Language: en
Type: other
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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