1. Health Care in Germany A brief overview Herr Riddle

2. Culture Capsule  You wake up one morning at your host family‘s and your eye is swollen shut. You are insured as a foreigner. You would…  A. Go to the hospital emergency  B. You can‘t go to the hospital (your insurance doesn’t cover it)  C. Have to make an appointment with an Arzt

3. Culture Capsule  You are in the emergency room, waiting for a doctor. You haven‘t made an appointment. It will probably take you…  A. As long as it takes in America about 20 minutes  B. It‘s Saturday, so about 2 hours.  C. The system is so good, they see you right away!

4. Culture Capsule  In Germany, health insurance is mandatory. Compared to American prices, insurance is…  A. about the same  B. very expensive  C. dirt cheap

5. A Brief History  1883: Health Insurance Act  GKV - gesetzliche Krankenversicherung  26% of lower-paid  10% of Population  1995: if you earn less than the income ceiling, you must participate (DM 70,000)

6. Statistics  16 states share responsibility with BT  2030 Hospitals  790 public, 820 non profit, 420 private  Many are run by churches  WHO: 358/ 100,000 (America has 279)

7. Overview  EVERYONE until the are 65 has to pay into a state Krankenversicherung  America - between 25 and 30% UNINSURED!!!  Between 300 and 400 plans  Employees contribute about 14% shouldered equally from employee and employer  It is possible to purchase private insurance

8. What‘s it like?  Same concept;  Allgemeinmediziner  Fachärzte  Hausarzt - transfer if necessary  LONG waits  You have to pay 10 Euro per quarter on your first visit per doctor unless referred

9. Does Germany have a good health care system?  According to WHO: YES!  Germany ranks 25th out of almost 200 beating America which is 37  Publicly insured patience are at no disadvantage  Opposite is true in America

10. Concerns  Lack of screening for breast cancer  Under developed palliative care system  Approximately 12 beds per million  Many fear that the rich poor diachotomy is emerging despite the generally excellent results.