title: [Competition among health insurance funds: the position of the PKV].
abstract: Competition between private health insurers (PKV) and statutory health insurance funds (GKV) in Germany is far from being perfect, but the advantages resulting from the duality between PKV and GKV for the insured outweigh its disadvantages. Germany is the only country in the world where two systems compete for the best health insurance services and offer actual alternatives. They represent two different ways of funding leading into one common healthcare system. The dual structure stabilizes and enhances the medical infrastructure for all insured individuals alike. The rules of competition however can only take effect if the particularities of the two system are maintained and not mixed up.
authors.affiliation: Verband der privaten Krankenversicherung e.V., Köln. volker.leienbach@pkv.de
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leienbach
mesh_terms: D002755:Choice Behavior; D004465:Economic Competition; D005858:Germany; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D017149:Private Sector / Q000191:economics