Approximately 87 percent of German citizens have GKV, or mandatory health insurance. In order to collect premiums from their members and pay health care providers in accordance with established agreements, the GKV relies on 321 non-profit sickness funds as of May 2005. People who aren’t covered by this insurance, primarily government employees and self-employed people, get health care through private, for-profit insurance.
Details About Health Care Scheme in Germany
Around 250,000 people in Germany, or 0.3% of the total population, lack any type of health insurance. While some of them are wealthy enough not to require it, the majority are impoverished and receive health care through social assistance. For more research click here.
The mandatory health insurance in Germany
Sickness funds are divided into three groups: primary funds, substitute funds, and “special” funds. Some employees are required to be primary fund members, such as those who make less than the income threshold (in 2006, this was EUR 3,937.50 per month / EUR 47,250.00 per year). Those who make more money than that cap may opt to join voluntarily or may have a choice of funds. Some of them automatically join a certain fund due to factors like their job (funds based on companies) or area of residence (local sickness funds). Some professions, like farmers or sailors, have their own “special” funds.
Both white collar and blue collar workers who earn more than the income threshold are covered by substitute funds, which are classified into two categories. Inclusion is optional.
The cost of a member’s premiums, which in 2006 averaged between 13 and 14 percent of an employee’s gross income up to the contribution assessment maximum (2006: EUR 3,562.50 per month / EUR 42,750.00 per year), is split equally between employers and employees. The relative member’s marital status, the size of their family, or their health have no bearing on the premiums, which are fixed in accordance with wages rather than risk. Within a specific fund with the same revenues, all members pay the same premiums. For more health tips visit our site ArticlesHubs.
Personal protection in Germany
In Germany, there are 40 for-profit insurance companies that offer private health insurance to about 11% of the population. Civil servants make up a large portion of those who choose private insurance because they wish to safeguard the portion of their medical expenses that the government does not cover. To cover extras like a private room or a choice of doctors while in the hospital, some sickness-fund members purchase supplemental private insurance.
The medical care given to those who are publicly and privately insured is identical, though. The same medical facilities are utilised in both situations. Anyone working for himself and making more than the income threshold needs private insurance. Members of a sickness fund are not permitted to switch back to public insurance after leaving the fund for a private insurance provider.
Contrary to mandatory health insurance, private insurance requires members to pay based on their age, gender, occupation, and health status, or individual risk. Private insurance is frequently less expensive than statutory health insurance, especially for younger policyholders without dependents. This is true even though private insurance companies pay health care providers nearly twice as much as the primary sickness funds do. Employees who have private insurance receive half of their premium payments from their employers, just like sick fund members do. May you can see about Florida Health Insurance Benefit from Online Price Comparability.
