With a population of just under 80.7 million in 2015, Germany ranks 16th in the world by population and 64th by total area. The official language of Germany are German. The currency is the euro.
Germany ranks 25th in world health ranking per WHO. In 2014, the total expenditure on health per person was $5,182, which is 11.3% of the GDP. German males have a life expectancy at birth of 79 years, and females can expect to live 83 years. There are 3.6 physicians per 1,000 people in Germany as compared with 4.04 physicians per 1,000 people in Switzerland.
Germany has a very large hospital sector and healthcare system is regulated by the Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss). Public hospitals have about half the beds, private not-for-profit hospitals have about a third, and private for-profit have the rest. All hospitals have mostly salaried doctors who are not allowed to treat outpatients unless care cannot be provided by office-based specialists.
Germany has statutory health insurance (SHI) for all citizens and permanent, legal residents. Most citizens are covered by the 124 competing, not-for-profit health insurance funds (sickness funds), which come from contributions from gross wages and cover all employees making less than $70k/year and their dependents. Covered services include preventive, hospital, primary, mental health, dental, optometry, palliative, and hospice care as well as prescription drugs, medical aids, physical therapy, rehab, and sick leave. Sickness funds have a range of co-pays and deductibles, and SHI physicians may not charge more than the fee schedule allows for SHI services.
Those who make more than can opt for private health insurance (PHI) instead, which often has lower premiums and better services. About 86% of the population has SHI, 11% has PHI, and the rest (soldiers, policemen, etc.) have their own insurance programs.
Many European countries offer European Health Insurance card (EHIC) which offers coverage for emergency medical coverage when travelling to participating European countries. Travel, or international, health insurance provides comprehensive medical coverage when traveling outside of one’s home country. Travel health insurance is different from travel insurance, as the latter may provide only emergency coverage but not full medical coverage.
Travelers should check with their health insurance provider, as they may already have an option of international health coverage. If they do not, they can purchase travel health insurance from their home country or the destination country.
This post was last modified on July 24, 2023 7:47 am
Spider veins are a common cosmetic concern for many people, causing small, visible veins to appear just beneath the surface… Read More
Digital Signage for Hospitals: Streamlining Communication in Hospitals SEO description: The use of digital signage for hospitals transforms the way… Read More
Oxygen is the most critical element for human survival, and in scenarios where oxygen levels are compromised, having access to… Read More
In the world of competitive sports and bodybuilding, serious athletes are always on the lookout for reliable, high-quality supplements to… Read More
Car accidents can change lives, causing long-term injuries that affect physical health, finances, and emotional well-being. Recognizing these effects is… Read More
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious condition that can result from various forms of negligence, such as car accidents,… Read More
It sucks to be on a tight budget. You have to pick and choose what you buy at the grocery… Read More
We’ve all laid in bed tossing and turning, not being able to sleep. But what if this is happening to… Read More
Addiction can profoundly impact every aspect of an individual’s life, from their physical health to their relationships, career, and spiritual… Read More
The mental health landscape for teenagers is increasingly concerning. Adolescence is a period fraught with changes—physically, emotionally, and socially—that can… Read More