The influence of the labor market on German health care reforms.
On the surface, the health care systems of Germany and the United States seem to be quite different from each other. However, in both systems, health care financing has close ties to the labor market. Recent changes in Germany's labor market have challenged the traditional employment-based funding of its social health insurance (SHI), to the extent that all political parties advocate decoupling health care financing from labor costs, to various degrees. This paper explores the impact of changes in the labor market on the proposed reforms in health care financing in Germany and suggests some implications for the United States.
Stock
Stephanie
S
Institute of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Germany. Stephanie.Stock@uk-koeln.de
Redaelli
Marcus
M
Lauterbach
Karl Wilhelm
KW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D005858:Germany; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012943:Social Security / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*