[/caption]About 72 million people are enrolled in Germany’s state health-insurance system, which is funded by mandatory payroll deductions split between employers and employees. Nearly 9 million are privately insured.
Germany has the world's oldest universal health care system, with origins dating back to Otto von Bismarck's Health Insurance Act of 1883. As mandatory health insurance, it originally applied only to low-income workers and certain government employees, but has gradually expanded to cover virtually the entire population.
Currently 85% of the population is covered by a basic 'Statutory Health Insurance' plan, which provides the standard level of coverage. The remainder opt for private health insurance, which frequently offers additional benefits.
Today, Germany’s highest court rejected a challenge by private health insurers to rules obliging them to introduce basic premiums, in a ruling that backs a cornerstone policy of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition government.
The 2007 health-care overhaul, which forced companies that provide private insurance outside the state system to offer basic cover to everyone from Jan. 1 this year, poses no disadvantage to the plaintiffs, the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe said in an e-mailed statement today.
“While companies now have to offer a basic tariff in addition to their normal tariffs and grant insurance protection upon request,” the “coherent practicing of the profession of a private health insurer has not become impossible nor has it been made lastingly more difficult,” the court said.
Insurers including Axa SA and Allianz AG went before the high court alleging that the new system breaches their constitutional rights by forcing people paying higher premiums to subsidize those who opt for basic coverage at lower premiums.
Forcing private health-insurance providers to offer basic insurance will probably have “no significant impact” on the companies’ business, the court said. If that turns out to be wrong, parliament may be “obligated to make a correction” to the law, it said.
About 72 million people are enrolled in Germany’s state health-insurance system, which is funded by mandatory payroll deductions split between employers and employees. Nearly 9 million are privately insured.
Parliamentary Rebellion
The health-care overhaul, passed in February 2007 after almost a year of coalition haggling, prompted the biggest parliamentary rebellion of Merkel’s time as chancellor. Lawmakers, insurers and health-care professionals said at the time the measures were a fudge that would fail to address the aim of cutting costs swollen by medical advances, greater longevity and ensuring benefits for the jobless.
Health Minister Ulla Schmidt welcomed the court ruling as sending a signal to private insurers that they need to shoulder a wider responsibility for health-care cover.
“For me, the final clarification is of importance that private health insurers have to accept social responsibility so that everybody in Germany can have health-insurance coverage and that older people are protected against exaggerated premiums,” Schmidt said in a statement.
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As long as Karlsruhe can keep the system going, we're okay. Once the private insurers are able to break loose and run rampant, the trouble begins anew. It's an ongoing battle. I was very impressed with the system as a younger lad. In fact, this universal health care system was one of THE two major reasons for me staying on here after my first tour of duty had expired.
ReplyDeleteI hope some of you can find something of interest in this post and today's decision as you folks struggle to have a similar system installed in the USA.
It's a money game, no doubt about it. Let the insurers have their way and people's teeth will begin to rot. In a way, no, not just in a way, this is the way a social democracy functions.
I've been keeping an eye on the Germans since Einheit. I told many of them: YOU are the ones who are going to figure out this Kapitalismus-Socialismus Dumheit. Ach- they said- you have too much faith in us!
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. It's not because the Germans are that much smarter... it's because they HAVE TO. They had the "opposing" economic "systems" stewing in two separate pots for over 50 years... and then dumped back together in the same kettle.
AND the Germans have a "social democracy." The US has NO democracy... or Republic... or anything except run-amok corporate fiefdoms... happily evolving toward neo-feudalism. I know you are annoyed with the "Black Block," but SOMEBODY has to take to the streets and set shit on fire... just to show it IS possible.
The Germans probably will not allow draconian measures to "keep order." Been there. Done that. The US is far past the point of "allowing" the oligarchs to do- or not do- anything.
The US has way too many military-cult chuckleheads who are willing to join the Sturmabteilung.
my comments are dropping off here, very strange.
ReplyDeleteWaldo, I hope I'm wrong and you are right. To me, it looks as if people here have dumbed down quite a bit. Various factors being the cause. The Black Bloc? Ah, we can get along just like I can also get along with the Angels.
now if that comment disappears, I'm gonna get pissed.
ReplyDeleteTony
ReplyDeleteROFLMFAO
Ya just pissy, no matter what.
Your posts are here. COTO does not do that shit. We leave it to Klown Kar Karl at Op Ed Snooze.