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The German Health Insurance System |
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 These comprehensive medical care services are financed through a social
health insurance system.
Each employee in Germany is a member of an
insurance company. The insurance companies cover the costs of necessary
medical care for employees and their families. Employees and employers
each pay half of a member’s health insurance premiums. All persons
covered by health insurance are entitled to the comprehensive medical
care services the system has to offer. There are no restrictions on
medical care (such as for older patients), and in general, with very
few exceptions, there are no waiting lists for medical care.
Local authorities, federal states, church institutions, and private
foundations provide funds for necessary projects, such as the building
of new hospitals. These are then refinanced through payments by
insurance companies for the treatment of patients.
Fees for medical care are regulated by law in Germany. Prices for
in-patient treatment are negotiated between the insurance companies and
the hospitals. All hospitals must adhere to this fee scale. However,
there are differences in prices between hospitals offering primary care
and teaching hospitals, which have to charge higher fees to cover costs
of training doctors.
Science and research
Germany has more medical students per capital than any other European
country. Many of them are involved in international research projects.
All German teaching hospitals work together on these projects with
teaching hospitals in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
This advanced training ensures that young physicians are kept
up-to-date on current debates in medicine, new forms of treatment, and
advanced diagnostic techniques. Perhaps this explains why, following
the United States and Britain, Germany boasts the highest number of
doctors to have received the Nobel prize.
 The Committee pursues its goals with a strong commitment to enhancing
international medical dialogue and making the high quality of German
medical services known to the world. It will continue in its efforts to
promote the positive image of German medical facilities and its further
development abroad by more actively co-operating with international
partners. |
Finance 
