Comparison Of Health Care In Germany

In 2010, the United States created The Affordable Care Act (ACA). The objective was to share the responsibility of costs between the government, individuals, and employers to provide affordable access to quality health insurance. “However, health coverage remains fragmented, with numerous private and public sources, as well as wide gaps in insured rates across the U.S. population.” (“United States: International Health Care System Profiles,” n.d.). Each individual state within the US, generally has control over private insurance.

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.

Before creating Obamacare, million people in the United States could not afford the expenditure to buy health insurances and drug costs. Therefore, they have no chance to prevent diseases or receive treatments. They could be discriminated against coverage and treatment because they had pre-existing conditions. As shown in statistics in the article “Health Coverage before the ACA, and Why All Americans are Better Off Now” of David Simas, the insurance companies could deny to coverage nearly one in two people because they have pre-condition such as heart diseases, cancer, or diabetes.

For example, if you had shoulder pain, you could see an orthopedic specialist the very same day with no visit to a general practitioner. The consolidation of insurance and care is characteristic of Kaiser Permanente in the United States, however being a private company and smaller than a national system, they are forced to require the general practitioner as a middleman to presumably control unnecessary visits. Another system Taiwan has in place is the “Smart Card” the card is carried by every citizen and allows a physician to pull up a complete patient history and bill the government insurance. Additionally this system can track abuse of visits and have a member of the Bureau of National Health Insurance visit the abuser, a system that the Taiwanese people are satisfied with. Kaiser Permanente has a similar system in place that allows any Kaiser physician to look up a complete patient history, stored on secure databases. However, as previously stated the general practitioner is used in Kaiser to prevent the abuse of services as that is the only realistic solution, but is fortunately not too restricting. Based upon my experience as a Kaiser patient, once you are established with a specialist, you may schedule an appointment without any gatekeeper interference. This just shows the similarities of Kaiser Permanente to a nationalized system and that the Kaiser model is one that can be successful on a large scale.

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).

The paper is broken up in to three sections. In section one, we will discuss the problems with the American Healthcare system and we will try and clear up some of the often misrepresented facts about the healthcare problems and solutions to fix them. In section two, we will present some of the solutions being put forward to fix the healthcare system, including plans by both Presidential Candidates

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

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.

The ACA requires insurers to accept all applicants, cover certain conditions, and charge the same rates despite one 's sex or pre-existing health status. There are ten provisions that make up the ACA which were to be implemented over time, from 2010 through 2020. The first provision is individual insurance, which prohibits insurers to deny coverage based on one 's pre existing health conditions. States were also required to make insurance available to children who are not insured through their families. Medicaid was also expanded to include individuals and families with an average income of thirty thousand dollars a year. This mandate will not cover those who are illegal immigrants, eligible individuals who choose to not be enrolled in medicaid, those who choose to pay the penalty, individuals whose insurance would cost more than 8% of their income, and those who live in states that opt out of the medicaid expansion.

When it comes to death, Germans own the highest rate of dying. They are required by law to purchase a coffin even if their loved one's are cremated. Over fifty percent of the German population is cremated to avoid burial services. Those who chose to be buried are only allowed to “rest” in cemeteries for ten to thirty years due to space limitations. Healthcare in Germany is only a bit different from American Healthcare. German Residents are required to belong to a sickness fund, and insurance companies are required to accept them. The residents pay half of the sickness fund costs, and employers pay the other half. There is also a limitation on out of pocket expenses, so it’s almost impossible for Germans to be in debt from any medical bills.

If Germans become unemployed for any reason, their health insurance does not change at all. In contrast, if a citizen in the U.S. finds themselves unemployed their health insurance is eliminated with the job. They may qualify for unemployment, but rarely does this have any impact on health insurance coverage (Saul, 2014). Children and retired people do have options for health care coverage in the U.S. if not already covered with Medicaid and Medicare. Although if a person is retired, they do not qualify for Medicaid unless they are over the age of 65. This is quite different than Germany, where all citizens are insured no matter if unemployed, retired, young, poor, etc. The United States could definitely learn a thing or two by looking at Germany’s health care system.

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.