Healthcare in Germany

Abstract

Germany has long and firmly held a leading position in many areas: in the field of industry and entrepreneurship, culture and tourism, the introduction of advanced technologies and sports. Medical care is no exception. Annually, about 11.5% of GDP is allocated from the federal budget for health care; in 2019, 15.3 billion euro were spent on the expenditures of the German Ministry of Health, the lion's share of which (94.6%) went to providing public insurance. The first Law on Compulsory Health Insurance for the Whole Working Population entered into force in Germany back in 1883, before that it was valid only in Bavaria. This Act, proposed by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, was, in fact, the prototype for the introduction of a compulsory health care system around the world. Today, the compulsory health insurance system covers 90% of the German population. All residents of the country with a compulsory health insurance policy are entitled to almost the same range of medical services. At the same time, the amount of medical care received with compulsory health insurance does not depend on the amount of the insurance premium. The cost of health insurance for each citizen is determined based on the amount of his income.