Forbes: Germany's health model works

Worried about a public insurance option running private insurers out of business? Read this. The two systems co-exist in Germany, with nearly equal levels of people expressing satisfaction with their coverage (84% for private, 85% for public). In fact, Germans are free to participate in public insurance and buy supplemental private insurance.

Meanwhile, Germany spends about half as much per capita on health care than we do. And they have just as many senior citizens per capita, and even more smokers.

68% of Germans said they had to wait no more than 4 weeks to see a specialist, vs. 74% in the USA.

How do they do it? They don't rely on expensive technology and ER care. Instead, they see their doctors more often and get treated often for chronic conditions. The government negotiates hard with drug companies on prices -- and has the leverage to do so. And once you're 55 you can't switch from a private to a public plan.

There is a better way.

Beyond Hysterics: The Health Care Model That Works

By Anita Raghavan

September 1, 2009 Forbes.com

As America agonizes over remaking health care, it might check out a private/public system that has been in place for years--the one in Germany.

URL: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0921/health-obama-germany-health-care-model-that-works.html?partner=alerts