Bismarck Model Nations Include:

Germany

Japan

“The archetypal Bismarck model is the traditional system of Germany, financed by multiple insurers, with employer-based schemes supplemented by the state, in which providers are privately owned and patients have direct access to specialists. “

Source: Bevan, Gwyn, Jan-Kees Helderman, and David Wilsford. “Changing Choices in Health Care: Implications for Equity, Efficiency and Cost.” Health Economics, Policy and Law 5.3 (2010): 251–267. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20478104

Fact Items Related To The Bismarck Model

• Overview of the German Health System
  “In the German health care system, decision-making powers are traditionally shared between national (federal) and state (Land) levels, with much power delegated to self-governing bodies. It provides universal coverage for a wide range of benefits. Since 2009, health insurance has been mandatory for all citizens and permanent residents, through either statutory or private health insurance. ...
• Health Insurance Coverage In Germany
  “Since 2009, health insurance has been mandatory for all citizens and permanent residents, either through SHI or private health insurance (PHI). SHI covers 85% of the population – either mandatorily or voluntarily. Cover through PHI is mandatory for certain professional groups (e.g. civil servants), while for others it can be an alternative ...
• The Swiss Federal Health Insurance Law of 1994
  “In 1991, the Federal Council proposed a new Federal Health Insurance Law (KVG/LAMal) with three main aims (Federal Council, 1991): (1) to strengthen solidarity by introducing universal coverage and ensuring that people with low incomes receive subsidies for purchasing insurance; (2) to contain the growing costs of the health system by a host of measures ...
• Patient Rights in Swiss Law
  “Individual patient rights are enshrined in a range of cantonal laws and federal legislation, and they are included in private law, public law and penal law. This fragmented regulation contributes to considerable intransparency of patient rights and is perceived to be a barrier to increasing the mobility of patients, as it has resulted in legal ...
• Financing of the Swiss Health System
  “The MHI system as outlined by KVG/LAMal is – at least to a certain extent – based on the concept of regulated competition (Enthoven, 1988). MHI companies compete in a highly regulated market by offering different MHI policies for a standard benefits package (section 3.3.1), which all residents have to purchase. MHI ...
• Health Care System Expenditures in Switzerland
  “Public expenditure on health consists of three parts (Figs. 3.5 and 3.6): “• MHI (right-hand side of Fig. 3.5). Revenues of MHI companies (left-hand side of Fig. 3.5) come from premiums paid by MHI ...

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Page last updated June 11, 2020 by Doug McVay, Senior Policy Analyst.