title: Principles of social security and health insurance for farmers in Poland and Germany--a comparative assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As landowners occupied with agricultural production comprise a sizeable part of the populations in mid- and western European countries, it seemed reasonable to assess the organization of health care systems concerning farmers and their families in Poland and Germany. Both countries have similar geographical conditions and rural environments. It so happens that in Poland the principles of the system of agricultural insurance (KRUS) is based on the experiences of Germany and France.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Basically, both in Poland and Germany, the agricultural health insurance companies provide the same insurance cover as other health insurance companies. In both countries, under certain conditions, in the case of illness, the insured farmers receive instead of sickness benefit operational assistance and home help. In spite of the similarities that characterize both administrations, many particular differences are to be noted, e.g. the farmers' social insurance in Poland is subject to only one ministry, in contrast to Germany where two ministries are responsible for farmers' social insurance. In Poland, KRUS is a monopolistic organization, whereas in Germany, nine similar independent structures fulfil the task of a health insurance company. Needless to say, many more funds are available for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in Germany than in Poland, due to obvious differences in the overall national income.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Posturzyńska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wojtyła
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hans
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morawik
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strzemecka
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jabłoński
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D005858:Germany; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018868:Insurance, Disability / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007351:Insurance, Liability / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D011044:Poland; D012943:Social Security / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*