From Greg Scandlen Newsletter #225               6/10/2010
Germany
 
Speaking of one standard for the Feds and another for everybody else, Ron Bachman writes up the results of his trip to Germany where he dug deep into the German system. He writes, "We listened to federal and state officials, doctors, hospital executives, members of the Bundestag, a health journalist, and German policy experts. They told us that the German system is the fourth most expensive system in the world. Their costs are rising rapidly and are unsustainable." He says he pressed these people on what were the three best characteristics of the German system, and they could come up with only two - Solidarity and Progressive Financing. "Quality, access, cost effectiveness, choice, and convenience were never mentioned."
 
He goes on to say that, 90% of the population is in "compulsory statutory social health insurance through 170 plans (where) there are waiting times for office visits, delays for elective hospital care, and postponed care if quarterly medical budgets are exceeded. Choice of physicians/surgeons is limited and private hospital rooms are not available."
 
Ten percent of the population is "covered by 50 private insurance plans. Those with private coverage get to the head of the line for appointments, have access to private hospital rooms, and use of 'master' surgeons and leading specialists for care." Ron writes, "I asked, who are those individuals and how many Germans get the private coverage as complimentary? The response was that federal government employees, state employees, professors, and others are defined as civil servants." They make up 80% of those enrolled in these private plans.
 
Not all pigs are equal on this plantation.
 
SOURCE:
Daily Caller

For more information   www.greg@chcchoices.org