title: Health insurance coverage in Central and Eastern Europe: trends and challenges.
abstract: Health insurance systems in Central and Eastern Europe have evolved in different ways from the centralized health systems inherited from the Soviet era, but there remain common trends and challenges in the region. Health spending is low in comparison to the spending of pre-2004 European Union members, but population aging, medical technology, economic growth, and heightened expectations will generate major spending pressures. Social health insurance is the dominant model in the region, but coverage is uneven. Key3reform issues include identifying ways to encourage additional investment in the health sector; and defining formal benefit packages, copayments, and the role of private insurance.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. hwaters@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Hugh R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hobart
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.forename: Karen Kinder
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Siemens
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.forename: Ananthram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.forename: Glenn Bruce
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Vanderver
authors.forename: Gerard F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Morlock
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D019981:Health Care Sector; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D017149:Private Sector